The St. Vincent de Paul Mustangs defeated the Santa Rosa Panthers last Thursday 4-3 in their first North Bay League - Redwood game of the season to improve their record to 3-3.
In the top of the sixth inning, Santa Rosa senior Cori Marchant roped a double and reached third due to an error. Lee hit an RBI double to score Marchant as the Panthers took their first lead of the game, as they were ahead 3-2.
In the bottom of the sixth with one out, senior Maddie Badaglia singled and reached second on a passed ball. Freshman Maddy Rynning recorded her third hit of the game to place runners on first and second. On a strange play, Junior Katarina Cespedes hit a single and due to an error, scored both Badaglia and Rynning putting the Mustangs ahead 4-3.
Maddie Badaglia is one of the senior leaders for this young St. Vincent de Paul team, and she loves to help the team as much as she can.
“In a game like this you just want to do what’s best for the team. This team is a lot of fun, especially since I get to play with my sister,” Badaglia said. “I love making plays with her. And it’s fun to watch the under-classmen play and fit in with the older kids.”
Santa Rosa was having trouble scoring runs throughout the entire game, as they were scoreless through four and-two-third innings. Senior right-handed pitcher Sophia Skubic has not only pitched every game for the Mustangs, but has completed every game as well. Skubic allowed nine hits, walked only one batter, and recorded six strikeouts in the win.
The Panthers threw junior pitcher Gia Hernandez, who pitched the entire game for her team as well. She allowed ten hits and recorded an impressive nine strikeouts.
St. Vincent de Paul head coach Morgan Selmi was very pleased with her team defeating their league rivals.
“We were very excited going into the game,” Selmi said. “We have been looking forward to playing Santa Rosa since the season began. They are going to be the main competition in our league.”
Skubic did not disappoint to start the game, pitching a 1-2-3 first inning. In the bottom of the first, the Mustangs got runners on first and second, but Hernandez recorded three straight outs to strand the two St. Vincent de Paul baserunners.
Skubic continued to pitch well for the Mustangs. She allowed one single hit by Hernandez, but once again recorded three easy outs to keep the Panthers scoreless. In the bottom half of the second, Hernandez was again able to strand a runner on first, recording three easy outs as the game was shaping up to be a pitcher’s duel.
Skubic kept up the strong pitching, recording three outs on three batters faced in the third.
The Mustangs broke the 0-0 tie in the bottom of the third inning. Skubic led off the inning with a single. She advanced to second on a passed ball, and later advanced to third on a wild pitch. Senior Maddy Delamontanya singled home Skubic to give the host Mustangs a 1-0 lead.
To kick off the bottom of the fourth, Rynning reached first base on an error and then got to second on a wild pitch. Cespedes hit into a fielder's choice, but reached second base due to another Santa Rosa error. Rynning scored on the play to extend the Mustang lead to 2-0.
Skubic struck the first two batters out, then allowed two singles in the top of the fifth inning. With runners on first and second, junior Danniella Lee hit a double and brought a run in, getting Santa Rosa on the board making it 2-1.
In the bottom half, Izzy Badaglia and Delamontanya both singled with one out, and Rynning recorded another hit to load the bases with two outs. But Hernandez got back into her groove, striking out Cespedes looking on a full count to strand the Mustangs with the bases loaded.
With one out in the top of the sixth inning, sophomore Cassidy Covington tripled. Senior Jamie Ruiz then hit an RBI single, scoring Covington and tying the game 2-2.
Sophomore Alicia Hartmann laid a successful bunt to reach first base for the Mustangs. Izzy Badaglia later hit a single, but Hernandez once again got the last outs and left Mustang runners stranded on the bases.
With a close game like this one, Selmi always makes sure that her players stay motivated.
“I’m pretty intense during the games, and I think the girls feed off of my energy. But they have to believe in themselves,” Selmi said. “I can do all I can believing in them, but they have to do it themselves. These are the games that we want, and the games that you want to come back for.
St. Vincent de Paul will play at Piner Tuesday in another North Bay League - Redwood game to try and extend their winning streak to two.
