March 1, 2025 - Hayward, CA
In a heart-pounding performance on a breezy afternoon at Chabot College, the Shasta Knights delivered a masterclass in batting, overpowering the Chabot Gladiators with a decisive 20-5 victory.
The game began with a powerful statement from Shasta's Bailey Weibling, whose first-inning homer set the tone. Joci Bertain then capitalized on a scoring opportunity, bringing home Madison-Mae Jones to give Shasta an early 2-0 lead. The momentum continued into the second inning as Shasta capitalized on fielding errors and consistent hits. By the end of the second inning, they had established a formidable 5-0 advantage.
Despite Chabot's efforts to fight back, including a notable fielder's choice by Kimberly Garcia in the third that brought home Katrina Longoria for Chabot's first run, Shasta's bats remained relentless. Madison-Mae Jones consistently demonstrated her prowess with strategic hitting, including a crucial RBI double in the fourth.
Shasta's supremacy was highlighted in their explosive seventh inning, which saw them pile on nine runs. Contributions included key doubles from Callie Kingsbury and Emma Tenney. The Knights effectively took advantage of defensive missteps by Chabot, cementing their commanding lead.
Joci Bertain showcased skill on both sides, expertly manning the mound for the full game while also driving in two RBIs. In contrast, Chabot's pitching duet of Katrina Longoria and Ashleigh Wyatt struggled against Shasta's unyielding offensive pressure, enabling a total of 23 hits and 20 runs.
While Chabot managed 14 hits of their own, crucial errors and missed scoring opportunities hampered their efforts. Ana Roldan stood out among the Gladiators, having gone three for three with an RBI, yet the overall defensive lapses, reflected in six errors, proved too severe against Shasta's onslaught.
For Shasta, this triumph underscores a promising trajectory as they continue their season, eager to replicate their offensive maestro act in upcoming games. Meanwhile, Chabot looks to rebound from the defeat, honing their defensive strategies ahead of future encounters.
As this exhilarating game concluded after 2 hours and 33 minutes of intensive play, Shasta emerged as a formidable force, leaving a lasting impression in Hayward and setting a high bar for future matchups in the league.