Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Lady Eagles sweep doubleheader at Capital

BHS wins by scores of 6-0, 9-5

T.S. Last News-Bulletin Sports Editor; tslast@news-bulletin.com

Belen After taking a tough loss in the season opener at Rio Grande, the Belen High School girls softball team rebounded with a doubleheader sweep at Santa Fe Capital on Saturday.

"It felt good to take a pair of games," said BHS coach Ken Zamora. "Everything came together, especially in the first game. Our defense was there, and we were hitting the ball."

Belen didn't hit the ball in its season opener on March 8 and suffered the consequences. The Lady Eagles relinquished a late-inning lead and wound up losing 2-1.

But Belen hit, fielded and got good pitching in the first game at Capital and registered a 6-0 win.

Belen pitcher Catherine Baca gave up just two hits, three walks and struck out 13 to record the shutout.

Offensively, Belen got hits from Baca, Amber Jaramillo and Jessica Vega to produce two runs in the third inning.

Belen got another run in the sixth and added insurance with three runs in the seventh.

In the seventh, Leah Cash singled and advanced to second on a passed ball. Jaramillo doubled to drive in the run and scored on Tomisita Smith's single. A sacrifice fly by Roni Marquez scored Smith for the final run.

The Eagles kept hitting in the second game and went home with a 9-5 victory.

The Jaguars briefly took the lead with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but Belen exploded for five runs in the second to take command.

"We were hitting and making good contact," said Zamora, who at the outset of the season indicated hitting was a point of emphasis for the Eagles.

Justine Gallegos was the starting pitcher for Belen in the second game.

"She's our eighth-grader, and she pitched really well," Zamora said.

Gallegos threw the first four innings, and Baca came on for the final three frames.

Belen's next game is Thursday at home against county rival Los Lunas. Game time is 6 p.m.

E-mail this story Printer-friendly version