Yellowjacket softball season ends in dramatic fashion
Colton loses their CIF playoff match to Oak Hills, 3-2, on walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning
The Yellowjackets come together for a meeting on the mound late in the CIF playoff game vs. Oak Hills, looking to make a final push.
Oak Hills, CA—This one was a nail-biter.
In a tense, tight, 10-inning Division 4 CIF playoff matchup, the underdog Yellowjackets gave the third-ranked Oak Hills Bulldogs all they could handle in the 3-2 loss.
The game was decided on a walk-off RBI single by junior first baseman Nyomi Estrada, putting an end to the Yellowjackets hopes of an extended CIF playoff run.
“They have nothing to be ashamed of,” Coach Chris Reyes said after the game. “We had a game plan, we did it to a ‘tee,’ and we just came up one run short.”
One run defined the game from the very beginning. Colton was the first to get on the scoreboard in the top of the second when shortstop Alexia Castor hit a home run over the left-center field wall. Oak Hills got the run back when third baseman Maddie Romo hit her own home run in the fifth.
Colton scored again in the top of the seventh, when Nalyn Hull hit an RBI double to left field that scored catcher Giuliana Danovaro, putting the Yellowjackets up 2-1. Then the Bulldogs answered right back in the bottom of the seventh, with left fielder Hailey Corona hitting an RBI single that scored Romo.
That was when the tension stretched across the crowd and the players. The big question was whether or not Oak Hills would sit their starting pitcher, Carly Baze, who had pitched a complete game up to that point. Oak Hills decided to stick with their ace, and she delivered, finishing all 10 innings, only giving up 2 runs and 7 hits with 10 strikeouts.
The Yellowjackets threatened in the top of the 10th, loading the bases after singles by Sydney Castro, Madison Barrera, and a walk to Susana Corbeton, but the rally ended on a fly out to center.
While Oak Hills went with one pitcher for the game, Colton opted to give the Bulldogs a variety of looks. Zerena Acevedo got the start with her hard fastball. She held the Bulldogs scoreless through two, but gave up 6 hits. Jasmine De La Rosa relieved Acevedo after the first batter in the fourth inning, and the freshman showed her grit, striking out two and only giving up two hits in two scoreless innings.
Hull took over the mound in the fifth and carried the Yellowjackets the rest of the way. After giving up the home run, she settled in and pitched an excellent 5 and ⅓ innings, holding the Bulldogs to two runs on seven hits, with four strikeouts.
For the Yellowjackets, the 2022 season could not have ended in a more dramatic fashion. This team saved their best game for last, and while it didn’t end with the result they wanted, they were able to return home knowing they left it all on the field.
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