Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Lady Warriors shut out Lobo offense in doubleheader

Socorro finishes regular season at end of this week

Nat Holland El Defensor Chieftain Reporter

The Socorro Lady Warriors softball team trounced the Chaparral Lady Lobos 15-0 in both games of Saturday's doubleheader, played in Socorro. Both games were extremely brief, three-inning affairs that ended by mercy-rule.

"It was a game where the outcome was expected. Everything went as planned," Socorro coach Gary Apodaca said. "We didn't play much defense because they didn't hit Maureen (Trujillo) much."

Trujillo pitched nine strikeouts to Chaparral (1-21, 1-7 District 3-3A) in the first shutout, but missed a perfect game by two walks.

Second baseman Mileva Gacanich made the throw to Ayse Rico at first base for the first out of the nightcap, and then it was all Trujillo again as she pitched eight strikeouts and only gave up one walk.

In the first game, the Lady Warriors (14-8, 8-0) scored 12 of their runs in the first inning. Highlights were doubles by Rico and Natasha Paz, and a triple by Trujillo.

Socorro went scoreless in the second inning.

In the third inning, Gacanich got on base when she was hit by a pitch and came around to score on an error that allowed Brittany McDaniel to get on base and eventually score. Kristen Gonzales got on base with a walk, and ended up stealing home on a passed ball to end the game.

Socorro started off a little slower in the second game, and didn't get on the scoreboard until the second inning in which, oddly enough, the first and last runs scored by Socorro in the second inning were from players who were hit by stray pitches.

Two base hits, a handful of walks, and a double by Courtney Edmister also contributed to the eight runs scored in the second inning.

A base hit by Gacanich started off the third inning and ended with a walk-off base hit by Amberli Benavidez that drove in the final two runs.

"Never underestimate the heart of a champion was our motto for the game," Apodaca said.

The Lady Warriors traveled to Cobre to play in a doubleheader on Tuesday that would decide the District 3-3A softball champion.

At least one win against Cobre will unseat the long-reigning district champions and give the crown to Socorro for the first time in years.

Socorro will host their final regular season game against Hatch Valley this Saturday, May 10, in a doubleheader scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.

nholland@dchieftain.com

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