The Kern Valley junior softball team gathers after winning a double-header on Saturday. Submitted Photo
Story by Ray Conner
Kern Valley’s varsity softball team thought they were comfortably ahead when the faced the Lady Scorpions. They would cling to a 7-6 win when the dust had settled.
Playing on their home field, the Lady Broncs started strong as they scored four times in the bottom of the first. They added one run in the second to go up 5-0. It was 6-0 as the teams finished five full innings. Desert got on the board in the top of the sixth to make it 6-1. Kern Valley responded with one run in their half of the sixth. To put the score at 7-1.
Things fell apart in the top of the seventh as the Lady Scorpions rallied to try and complete the comeback. Desert collected three hits, and took advantage of fielding miscues by Kern Valley. They Lady Broncs were credited with three errors in the inning. With the tying run on first and two outs, a pop up to second was secured and the rally had failed, giving the victory to Kern Valley.
As a team, the Lady Broncs had nine hits, including one for an extra base. They would be issued five free passes in the game. Ava Rementegui led the way with a pair of hits. She would record one RBI. Hailee Kopperman smacked the double for her only hit, while Brooklynn Robertson and Kayley Sietsma each had one hit. Ava Bates was walked three times and scored twice. Recording RBIs for the Lady Broncs were Ava Elliot, Audrey Martinez, and Elli Jeans.
Martinez started in the circle and pitched a complete game. She tossed seven innings, allowing the five runs, only four were earned. She scattered eight hits, while walking just two. She struck out nine in picking up the victory.
Three days later a trip to Frazier Mountain was on the schedule for the Lady Broncs. They took the early lead by scoring 10 runs in their first three at bats. They would keep their HDL hopes alive with the 17-6 win.
The Lady Broncs were ahead 10-0, when the Lady Falcons cut into the lead as they tallied twice. They got back into the game as they followed that with four runs to make the margin 10-6. Kern Valley took back control in the fifth and sixth as they collected seven runs to put the game out of reach.
The Lady Broncs collected 11 hits as a team, including three that were for extra-bases. Combined with eight walks, Kern Valley had plenty of base runners to score the 17 runs. Robertson was the leading hitter as she collected two doubles and an RBI. Kayley Sietsma had two hits and knocked in two runs, while Bates had two hits, including a double. She would plate one run. Leenah Trotter and Samantha Wyly each contributed two hits and an RBI, while Kassidy Sietsma finished off the hit parade with one.
Wyly started and went the first three innings. She left with the 10-2 lead. Elliot came in to relieve and was credited with one inning of work. She allowed four runs, all earned. She gave up on one hit, while walking five. She struck out two batters. Wyly came back to finish off the game. She totaled five innings allowing two runs on three hits. She walked three and struck out eight.
Kern Valley now stands at 11-1 in the HDL. They played Rosamond on Tuesday and will hope to travel to Cal City on Friday to play for the league title.
