Page 10 - Sanger Herald 5-3-18 E-edition

her mom and grandparents, Herring concurred. “We got this,” she said, adding that the ice was “preventative” only.
Leon explained why they feel confident as the post- season approaches. “We have a lot of respect for each other, and I think that’s what gets us through,” she said. “I think that’s what gets us all together, all focused.
“One of us gets a hit and we all get excited. And that just helps us get the job done.”
Hernandez pointed out a new headband she wore for the game. It featured her initials, the stylized image of a Bulldog and “Psalm 3:6,” which roughly translated says, “Although 10,000 enemies surround me on all sides, I’m not afraid.”
Maybe that contributed. In the top of the third inning, senior Brianah Stafford and Hernandez combined on a particularly noteworthy play getting the out on second on a single by Edison’s Ciweya Tennison. While Tiger Alani Cruz was tagged out by Stafford on second, Tennison did go onto score the Tigers’ only run that inning.
Hernandez scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning, and junior Krista
Picquette scored one of her runs in the fifth.
But it was the sixth where Sanger really unleashed. Stafford singled and earned a run to make it 5-1. But then with the bases loaded, junior Danessa Castro ran home and after Herring singled, two more scored.
Senior Valerie Ruiz subbed in for Fortaney at the top of the seventh inning as pitcher and closed out the game.
Bullard now sits with Sanger atop the league rankings. But nobody was all that concerned.
The story was different April 27 against Madera. One inning made a big difference.
The Coyotes scored eight runs in the top of the ninth in what had been a hotly contested 5-5 game in extra innings. Then Hernandez got that look and unleashed a grand slam, limiting the damage and the effect the loss would have on the team during senior night festivities later that evening. Final score was 13-9.
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerheraldsports@gmail. com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
Brian Penner photo
The Apache tennis team clinched a second consecutive County Metro Athletic Confer- ence championship with a 9-0 win April 24 against Edison.
SANGER HERALD
2B THURSDAY, MAY 3, 2018
Softball
Continued from Page 1B
feet off the ground in a play more in line with her basketball playing days. She could’ve dunked that one. But Herring’s a better judge. Still, it’s a play to remember and describe in future retellings with the vertical leap growing as would the size of a catch in a typical fisherman’s story.
“I told you we were going to win in the first inning,” Hernandez said after the game. “We’re going to go so far. I’m telling you, this team is something, man.”
Hernandez ate spears of cucumber prepared specially for her by her grandmother, Mary Lou Garza. “With lemon and salt,” Hernandez said. “It gives me magic powers or something.”
The Apaches went on to win the game 8-1 with more plays like to two mentioned above.
“Total team effort,” said coach Erica Pennington, who parents describe as offering the perfect mix between true affection and caring for her players and high expectation. “Everyone stepped up.”
Pennington said she asked for and got whatever she asked from the bench and the rest of the team during the game. And she said she needed the effort. “Edison is a very good team,” she said.
Mata said her chin still hurt where she injured it sliding into second. But she wasn’t too concerned. “Good game,” she said. “We’re going to Valleys. I already know. For sure.”
After getting a bag of ice strapped to her right shoulder and leaving with
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Senior Ashley Mata slides into second and is safe.
Racing
Continued from Page 1B
best Honda Challenge car in the country.
This car will earn the right to wear the No. 33 number and be driven by Keith for the 2018 season. It will come with fresh blue and silver paint from Olson’s shop.
Our next event was at Buttonwillow Raceway April 21. Our plan was to shake down the new No. 33 car and run the No. 38 car hard. If all goes right, we earn points for qualifying for the National Championships this fall.
Our other plan is to hang out with friends at the track and enjoy some tasty Double Nickel Nine
Baseball
Continued from Page 1B
sure to keep the ball low when he pitched it over the plate. And he said his defense clicked. The mistakes disappeared, and the Apaches of many of the past games, the ones who compiled a 14-9 overall record, returned to the field.
“Errors killed us,” Martinez said. “But we tried to minimize the damage.
“Losses are going to happen. We just have to do our best and win the next game.”
Catcher Jose Quinonez, a senior, said for the rest of the game his team chipped away at the seven run lead that Madera South banked. “It just wasn’t enough,” he
Jeff Balliet photo
Keith Kramer, driving for DNN Motorsports out of Del Rey, leads the first laps at the 2017 NASA Western States Championships at Thunderhill Raceway.
IPA, named after our team from Tactical Ops Brewing Co. If things go our way, we will pick up some new hardware for our trophy case in our shop in Del Rey.
C’mon, we can’t be locally world famous if we don’t win!
said. “After that inning, we cleaned everything up.
“We’ll take this fire into next week into the series against Bullard.”
The first game was Tuesday and the second is tonight at Bullard.
Quinonez said their coach, David Cuellar, always says that if the pitcher is “not on,” it’s up the rest of the team to make the plays and get the outs. “We didn’t make the plays,” Quinonez said.
“Tough one,” Cuellar said. “One bad inning.”
Cuellar said he told the team to take solace in the fact that Sanger beat Madera South in two of their three meetings during their regular season series. “I told the team our biggest opponent is ourselves,” he said. “Sometimes pitchers, on every level, some days they just don’t have it.
Rob Krider is the author of the novel, “Cadet Blues” and can be reached through www.robkrider.com. To follow the race team go to www.team559.com or follow KriderRacing on Instagram.
He was trying. He was chugging through.”
Cuellar referred to Flores, who he later praised with fellow pitcher Harrell. “They have been picking us up all year,” he said. “That’s the joy of the pitcher, giving us the chance to win.”
The real test for these Apaches will be felt in the coming weeks.
“May is like October (major league) baseball,” Cuellar said. “We just have to keep our heads up.”
And Herring said he felt good about his Apaches’ chances. “We don’t go into anything fearing anyone,” he said. “We have that ‘Let ‘em swing’ mentality.”
The reporter can be contacted by email at sangerheraldsports@gmail. com or by phone at the Herald at (559) 875-2511.
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