Mountain Valley Softball Finish in 2nd Place for District
Kenzie Sayles bearing down on the batter. (photo by Karen Holmes)
Mountain Valley Middle School Softball team finished 2nd for their completed season a few weeks ago after suffering a 4-0 blanking at the hands of Canyon Middle School.
Silver Sage says way to go Hawks
“We are a strong team but sometimes we played so we needed people to step up,” Head Coach Jacquelyn Scott surmised. “The girls did a great job for what we had and our defense was off but had that part of our game had been solid.”
Those 4 errors certainly helped in securing this defeat as two misplayed balls in the outfield led to a first inning 2 run deficit.
The Hawks were able to get just one player to second base for the night as they scratched out 5 hits for the contest.
Speedster Alyssa Sanchez was able to reach base on a Canyon error and then an easy steal of 2nd base was the extent of Mountain Valley on the base paths.
Alyssa Sanchez is ready for next ground ball. (photo Karen Holmes)
Both teams settled down with good pitching for the rest of the contest as Mountain Valley’s Kenzie Sayles pitched the last 5 innings giving up just 3 hits.
“I just wanted to finish the game and get district,” Sayles said diplomatically. “I wanted to do a good job in striking them out.”
There were some good defensive plays as the Hawks kept the game within striking distance during the 6th inning as the Cougars had the first 3 players on base via two singles and a walk.
The next two outs were made at home when Sayles helped her cause fielding a ball hit back up the middle for the automatic out at home. That play had some drama attached when Sayles decided to do some juggling before getting the ball to home plate for that out.
“When the ball was hit, I just stopped it and it was stressful,” Sayles said while reacting to that play at the plate. “I was ecstatic when we got that out…..I always try hard and we give it our best and try to get a win.”
That same type of play happened again when 1st baseman Emma Mentzger would make her play interesting as she searched for the handle on the softball before getting the 2nd out at home plate.
Hawks takes no Bull from the Cougars!! Go Hawks
Mountain Valley totaled 3 outs at the plate as a strong throw from Centerfielder Kaitlyn Cox during the 2nd Inning was on the mark as Kaylee Puente would wait for the runner after receiving the thrown ball in plenty of time for the tag.
“I heard their 3rd base coach say go and then I saw the ball and I wanted to get someone out,” Cox said while recounting the play she had from the outfield. “I kind’of have a strong arm….I used to be a catcher and that is where that strength comes from.”
Cox will be in the CL High School halls next year and she let us know her thoughts for her next step, “I am going to play my strongest and it will all start to sink in, in August.”
Hill Country Furnishings says Go Mountain Valley Hawks!!
Puente was in on all of those plays at the plate and she held her ground in getting those crucial outs.
“I had time and got two hands on the ball,” Puente recounted after commenting on how hard the ball was thrown from Centerfielder Cox.
Kaylee’s sister. Maddy Puente, were separated for the first time this year as the sisters did not play together this season.
“We really have never been apart and this was our first year,” Kaylee said. “When I got to middle school, I could not wait to play with her…..I know her the best when I am catching her pitches.”
Pitcher Kaitlyn Keltner was the starter and recipient of that throw out from centerfield, as all of the Canyon runs would be unearned in this loss.
We are Hawk Proud
There will be another good group of ladies to make their trek to High School this next season as Canyon Lake’s Softball program will look to continue to build the program to higher heights.
Being 2nd Place in district is not a bad finish based on MV playing against middle schools that feed into 6A schools. Way to Go Hawks!!
Have a great Summer Mountain Valley!!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E CMS 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 4 8 1 MVMS 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 4 ab r h bi bb so misc Kenzie Sayles 3 0 0 0 0 1 Kaitlyn Cox 3 0 1 0 0 2 Kaylee Puente 3 0 2 0 0 0 fc cs Emma Mentzer 3 0 0 0 0 0 Madelynn Row 3 0 0 0 0 2 Alyssa Sanchez 3 0 0 0 0 0 sb roe Madison De Leon 3 0 1 0 0 0 Jaden Castillo 2 0 0 0 0 2 ph Lexi Hettinger 1 0 0 0 0 1 Rachel Tucker 2 0 1 0 0 1 totals 26 0 5 0 0 9 pitching ip h r er bb so Kaitlyn Keltner 2 5 2 0 1 2 Kenzie Sayles 5 3 2 0 3 4 totals 7 8 4 0 4 6 pitches/strikes: Kaitlyn Keltner 41/24 59% Kenzie Sayles 98/60 62%
