The Kern Valley #1 Little League Junior Softball team pose with their coaches after completing an undefeated season.
Submitted photo. Story by Ray Conner
Playing at the junior level of Little League Softball produced an undefeated team. The Kern River Valley #1 Junior Softball squad completed an undefeated season going 12-0. They dominated most of their opponents and now will look forward to continuing that in the Tournament of Champions.
In recent games they took on Tehachapi for three games, and followed that up with a pair of games versus KRV’s #2 team. KRV #1 outscored their opponents 72-17 in the games. Three of the four games they plated double figures in runs. The closest game came against Tehachapi. They collected the 9-5 win to keep the team undefeated.
Playing on the road the 9-5 game put the KRV #1 squad to work as they had to battle to keep their winning streak alive. After three innings the score sat at 1-1. KRV #1 came to bat and answered the call. Four runs would cross home plate to put them back in the lead 5-1. Tehachapi scored one run in the bottom of the inning to make it 5-2
Another run scored by KRV #1 made it 6-2, but another response by Tehachapi put the score at 6-3 after five complete innings. In the top of the sixth, KRV #1 put the game out of reach as they plated a pair of runs. The score stood at 8-5. KRV #1 added one more run and then closed out the game to collect the victory.
As a team KRV #1 collected seven hits in the contest. They were led by Bobbie Pruitt with two hits and two runs scored. Kennedie Young delivered two hits, while Ashley Plante and Naomi Tapia each had one hit and one run scored. Josie Wilder rounded out the hit parade with one. Jade Montes scored a pair of runs, while Gabby Eastes, Emmy Bechtel, and Amber McAhren scored one time.
In game two versus Tehachapi, the KRV #1 team took command and never looked back. A nine-run third inning put them over the top as they earned the 15-1 win to move to 10-0 on the season. This game lasted only five innings due to the run-rule.
KRV #1 Hits: Montes 1 (2B), Teagan Liske 1, Amber McAhren 1. Runs scored: Bechtel 3, Montes 2, Young 2, McAhren 2, Eastes 1, Brenna Elliott 1, Keira Hayes 1, Liske 1, Wilder 1, Plante 1.
In the third game, KRV #1 shut out their opponents 6-0. Tehachapi was limited to just five runners in the game. They were held to one hit and were set down on strikes six times. KRV #1 scored one run in the top of the first and that would all they would need. They added two in the second, one in the fourth, and closed it out with two in the fifth.
KRV #1 hits: Young 2 (2-2B), Montes 1, McAhren 1. Runs scored: Liske 2, Bechtel 1, Montes 1, Hayes 1, McAhren 1.
Their next opponent was the KRV #2 team. Playing on the home field these two local teams went up against each other. In game one Another nine-run inning propelled KRV #1 to the victory. The final score was 24-5. The big hit came off the bat of KRV #1 player Hayes who smacked a home run. McAhren and Plante also connected on home runs earlier in the game. Every player on the KRV #1 team scored at least one run in the contest.
KRV #1 hits: McAhren 4 (HR), Hayes 2 (HR), Plante 2 (HR), Young 2, Liske 2, Bechtel 1, Wilder 1, Pritt 1. Runs scored: Hayes 4, Bechtel 3, Elliott 3, McAhren 3, Wilder 2, Plante 2, Eastes 1, Montes 1, Young 1, Liske 1, Bella Goffinet 1, Pruitt 1.
KRV # 2 hits: Lillie 2, Desirae 2, Addison 1, Josie 1. Runs scored: Raeghan 1, Lillie 1, Sophia 1, Addison 1, Zoe 1.
Game two saw the KRV # 1 team dominate and collect the 24-7 win over their home town opponents. Three innings of eight runs apiece secured the victory for KRV # 1. Every player on the KRV # 1 squad had at least one hit in the game.
KRV # 1 hits: Bechtel 2 (3B, 2B), Hayes 2 (2B), Eastes 2, Montes 2, Liske 2, Goffinet 1 (2B), Pruitt 1 (2B), Toung 1, Wilder 1, Elliott 1, McAhren 1, Plante 1. Runs scored: Eastes 3, Bechtel 3, Montes 3, Young 3, Wilder 3, McAhren 3, Liske 2, Plante 2, Hayes 1, Elliott 1.
KRV # 2 hits: P. Mental 1, S. Charlton 1. Runs scored: R. Thompson 2, B. Coughlin 1, K. Taylor 1, Mental 1, Z. Perfect 1, D. Munz 1.
