Kaylin Steede cranked a three-run home run in the top of the seventh inning to lift the Oak Hills softball team past Sultana 6-5 on Thursday afternoon.
The junior’s shot to centerfield broke a 3-3 tie, scoring Amaya Sigala and Dallyse York, proving to be just enough for the Bulldogs as Sultana attempted a comeback in the home half of the seventh inning.
Down three runs, Sultana’s Savannah Vanderpool stepped to the plate with two outs after Alexis Mejia reached base on an error. Vanderpool sent the second pitch she saw, trimming the lead to a run.
Angelica Tadeo, pitching in relief, forced Sultana’s Maricruz Venegas to ground out to end the game, as the Bulldogs bounced back from being shut out by Apple Valley earlier in the week.
Sultana took a 3-0 lead after a two-run single from Avery Rodriguez in the bottom of the fifth inning, just before Oak Hills’ comeback.
Jade Whitman led off the sixth inning with a home run, putting Oak Hills on the board. Shortly after, Lidia Martinez smacked a two-run single to tie up the game.
Tadeo retired the side in the bottom of the sixth inning, before Steede’s homer. Steede ended 2 for 4 with two runs.
Tadeo picked up the win in the circle, pitching 2 ⅔ innings in relief, allowing two unearned runs and striking out two batters. Carsyn Leon drew the start and allowed three runs on seven hits over 4 ⅓ innings.
Vanderpool, who went 2 for 4, struck out nine batters and allowed six runs on eight hits over seven innings.
The teams, currently tied with two other teams for second place in the Mojave River League standings behind Apple Valley, will square off again on April 22 at Oak Hills.
Baseball Scores
Sultana 4, Burroughs 0
At Ridgecrest, the Sultans threw a combined no-hitter against the Burros. Brody Sappington struck out three batters over 4 ⅔ innings, and LJ Borrego stuck out two in 2 ⅓ innings.
Apple Valley 9, Oak Hills 3
At Apple Valley, Beau Lloyd struck out five batters and allowed five hits over 6 ⅔ innings, and hit a solo home run to lead the Sun Devils. Isaiah Reveron went 2 for 4 with three RBIs and two runs; Jaden Padilla and Ethyn Doyle both collected a pair of hits. For Oak Hills, Jacob Webster and James Juarez both went 2 for 3.
Riverside Prep 18, Hesperia Christian 1
At Oro Grande, Jacob Villegas struck out eight batters and allowed two hits over four innings to lead the Silver Knights. Trent Bourgeois powered the offense by going 4 for 5 with four RBIs and two runs, and Ethyn Beltran went 4 for 4 with three RBIs.
