East Union proved itself even in defeat Tuesday at Northgate Softball Complex.
The Lancers dropped their Valley Oak League opener 2-1 in eight innings to reigning MVP Randi Roelling and visiting Central Catholic. Taryn Calderon’s one-out home run to left field was the difference for the Raiders (1-0 VOL, 8-1 overall), and the Cal-bound Roelling struck out the side in order in the bottom half of the eighth to end it.
“That’s one of the best teams in the area,” first-year EU coach Matt Cooper said. “It’s hard to walk away from a loss and be happy, but the girls played great. They fought all the way to the end.
“We’ve been trying to get the girls to buy in all season and they are,” he said. “We’ve been flying under the radar and that’s where we like to be, but we know we can compete with some of the best.”
Four of the six teams in the VOL came into the week in the top 25 of the overall Sac-Joaquin Section MaxPreps computer rankings, and East Union (0-1, 5-2) checked in at No. 28 with Central Catholic at No. 3. Only four teams qualify for the SJS playoffs.
Roelling was rolling all game for the Raiders Tuesday, finishing with 15 strikeouts. Her only blemish was home run given up to Dillan Blevins. In fact, all three runs scored in this pitcher’s duel were from solo jacks.
“We had good at-bats, but Randi goes down south during travel ball and shuts down some of the best teams in the country,” Cooper said. “She’s a great, great pitcher.”
Roelling fanned the first six batters she faced until Blevins stepped to the plate to start the third. East Union’s slugging third baseman swung at the first offering and drilled it high to left-center field.
“I get a lot of information from the girls on my team — we always help each other out,” Blevins said. “They were telling me it’s either going to be first pitch down the middle for a straight strike, or it’s going to be high and out. So, I was looking for that (pitch) down the middle and I just so happened to get it, and I went for it.”
Central Catholic tied it with Emoni Machado’s leadoff shot in the fifth.
Hawaii Pacific signee Layla Molina was stellar opposite the heralded Roelling, scattering just five hits while striking out seven. Her only walk was intentional, as the Lancers opted to give Roelling a free pass with two outs and a runner on second in the sixth inning. The strategy paid off, as Molina induced an inning-ending comebacker.
Molina earlier got out of some trouble when Roelling and Jazzelyn Rios opened the second inning with back-to-back singles. Machado bunted them over, and East Union’s defense was able to prevent a run on the next at-bat, as Blevins threw out Roelling at home after handling a sharp grounder from Madison Harrison.
“There weren’t too many mistakes (on defense),” Cooper said. “Everybody made the plays that needed to happen in front of them.
“We knew they were going to hit the ball and we needed to be ready to make the plays, and they did. Layla did great. She made two mistakes and we paid for it, but if you tell me we’re only going allow Central (to score) two runs, I’m going to like our chances.”
The Lancers did well to force an extra inning against the VOL’s defending co-champion and SJS Division III playoff finalist without one of their top players. Junior catcher Makenzie Nervis was out of town to attend a family function.
It doesn’t get easier for EU, which travels to Kimball today and to Oakdale on Thursday. Kimball and Oakdale are ranked eighth and 19th in the Section, respectively.
“Our league is crazy,” Cooper said. “We have five teams that can win any other league around here. Every game is going to be a nail-biter in this league, so we have to be ready to fight.”
