KRYSTEK’S BIG DAY HELPS CHRISTIAN KNOCK OFF VALHALLA

By Adam Paul
Updated: March 14, 2018

2018 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

EastCountySports.com

CHRISTIAN 5, VALHALLA 4

The Patriots got on the board first in the top of the first inning as Silent Rain Espinoza (1-3, 2R) started off with a walk, an error and a couple batters later Mallory Steele would drive in Espinoza to make it 1-0.

Christian would add to its lead in the top of the second inning when Devyn Krystek (4-4, R, 2 RBI, HR) jacked a solo home run off of Valhalla pitcher Kayla Hoffman to make it 2-0.

However the Norsemen would cut into the Patriots lead in the bottom of the second when leadoff hitter Samantha Green (2-4, 2R) reached on a dropped third strike, Victoria Villegas (4-4, R, 2 RBI, 2 2B) was the next batter and she smashed a double to center field that scored Green to make it 2-1. Unfortunately, that would be all the Norsemen would garner as the next couple batters would be retired to end the inning.

For the Patriots in the top of the third Shannon McMahon (1-3, R) singled to leadoff, Steele singled, a couple batters later with two outs Krystek struck again with a single that scored McMahon to push the lead to 3-1. They tacked on another run in the top of the fourth when Espinoza singled, Ashley Carter (2-4, 2B) doubled and Audrey Shebloski (RBI) knocked in Espinoza to make it 4-1.

Moving to the bottom of the fourth inning and still trailing the Norsemen knew they had to do something. The offense in the bottom of the fourth finally woke up as leadoff hitter Green singled, Villegas doubled which scored Green on the throw and Villegas would advance to third on the throw, Delaney Stettler (RBI) grounded out which allowed Villegas to come in to score to pull Valhalla within 4-3. Unfortunately again that would be the closest they would get in the inning as the next couple batters would be retired to end the inning.

With the Norsemen still only trailing by a run in the bottom of the sixth inning the Norsemen thought they had a good shot when they strung together some baserunners.

A lead single by Villegas, Aubrey Baker into run, Stettler grounded into a fielder’s choice to Espinoza who threw out Baker attempting to advance to third base, Emily Quesada reached on an error, Stettler advanced to second, Kelly Olson (1-3) singled to load the bases but again the next two batters were retired by Carter to end the inning.

Christian would tack on a run in the top of the seventh inning when Steele led things off with a double, she advanced to third on a sacrifice, Elle Lindblad (1-4, RBI) came up and singled which scored Steele to make it 5-3.

The score would be changed to 5-4.

Valhalla had one more shot in the bottom of the seventh inning and would put together some offense with two outs as Green singled and Villegas singled but Carter was able to get out of the inning and the game.

Carter in the victory went 7 innings, giving up 4 runs of which 3 were earned on 8 hits, walked 1 struck out 4.

Hoffman took the loss for Valhalla going 7 innings, giving up 4 runs of which 3 were earned on 10 hits, walked 2 and struck out 1.