Lady Broncs varsity softball open year with three wins

Kern Valley’s varsity softball squad swung into action as they played four games at the North High Tournament.
The Lady Broncs collected three wins over the four-day competition. Their only blemish was against the host school. They dropped that decision 12-2 to the Lady Stars. The earned their three wins over East High, West High, and Del Oro.
They began with a game with the Lady Blades of East High. Kern Valley jumped out to an early lead and then held on to collect the victory. The game opened with the Lady Broncs scored six runs. The East High pitcher had trouble finding the strike zone. This allowed the Kern Valley team to push the six runs home. The Lady Blades did put up a three spot to cut the lead in half. In their second at bat the Lady Broncs added three runs and finished their scoring with a run in the third.
They were comfortably ahead 10-3, the East High team tried to make a comeback. They scored twice in the fourth and three more in the fifth to make it 10-8. The Lady Broncs got the outs they needed and they were able to gain the victory. The Kern Valley team banged out five hits and were issued four walks. Kenadie Young led the way as she had two hits, including a double. Naomi Tapia also had a pair of hits. Evie Burrows had one hit to close out the offense for the Lady Broncs. Leenah Troller was credited with a pair of RBIs, while Jade Montes, Ashley Plante, and Burrows had one RBI apiece.
Sam Wyly (1-0) was in the circle for Kern Valley. She picked up the win by going five innings. She allowed 10 hits and the eight runs. She walked eight and struck out two batters.
The next game was against the West High squad. Kern Valley dominated from start to finish as they pounded out the 15-1 win over the Lady Vikings. Scoring early and often, the Lady Broncs offense swung onto action as they had 19 hits as a team. This included four that went for extra bases. One of these was a home run. Putting the ball in play was the key as Kern Valley was not issued a base on balls in the game.
Lady Broncs hitting: Young 4 (2B), Ava Elliott 3 (2-2B), Wyly 3, Gabby Eastes 2, Amber McAhren 2, Plante 2, Troller 1 (HR), Montes 1, Ariana Mendoza 1. RBIs: Elliott 3, Troller 2, Young 2, Wyly 1, Eastes 1, Montes 1, Plante 1, Mendoza 1. Pitching: Montes W (1-0) 4 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
Taking on North in their next contest, the Lady Broncs saw a 2-0 lead evaporate in one inning. Kern Valley broke a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. A double by Young set the scoring in motion. She would cross the plate on Elliott’s two-bagger. It was Montes who drove home the second run with a two-out single. North was not to be denied as they exploded for 12 runs to end the game in their half of the fourth. They sent 15 batters to the plate as the merry-go-round the bases took place.
The three hits were all the Lady Broncs could muster in the game. Montes (1-1) was saddled with the loss. She allowed eight runs on 10 hits in four and one-third innings. She walked three and struck out two batters. Wyly came on in relief and fared the same fate. She gave up the final four runs on two hits, two hit batters, and one walk.
The final game for the Lady Broncs was versus Del Oro. They took out their frustrations from the previous game as they dominated the Lady Suns 15-5. Kern Valley wasted little time in getting on the scoreboard. They jumped out of the gate with a nine spot in the first inning. The Lady Broncs batted around as they sent 15 batters to the plate. They continued to pile on and the game was stopped after four innings.
Lady Broncs hitting: Wyly 2 (2B), Elliott 2 (2B), Montes 2, Young 1, Tapia 1, Burrows 1, RBIs: Montes 3, Elliott 2, Troller 2, Plante 2, Burrows 2, Tapia 1. Pitching: Wyly W (2-0) 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 1 BB, 3 K.
With their first games of the season the Lady Broncs are 3-1. Kern Valley played Del Oro on the road again on Monday and they squared off with Laton on Tuesday. The Lady Broncs are home against Mojave on Thursday. This game starts at 3:15 p.m.