The softball team steamrolled the Sequoia Ravens 16-1 in a mercy rule win on Tuesday afternoon. In a game marked by balls from Sequoia pitchers, the Bears’ hot swings carried M-A to victory.
Beginning with junior pitcher Gracy Nava on the mound, Sequoia filled up the bases to quickly gain a 1-0 lead off a long hit. M-A responded with poise as sophomore first baseman Olivia Rodgers got consecutive outs, ushering in the Bears’ at bat.
Nava kicked off the batting lineup, reaching first base after getting a solid hit. Junior second baseman Juliana Pandolfo walked to first after four balls, but the Ravens then tightened up their pitching, forcing two consecutive outs. Rodgers responded with a powerful hit, lending her enough time to slide to third base while bringing Nava, Pandolfo, and senior catcher Kylie Cox home to give M-A an early 3-1 lead.
The Bears entered the second inning with confidence, and the rattled Ravens proved to be no match as M-A’s defense obtained two swift outs. In a fleeting success, Sequoia put a batter on first base, but Pandolfo caught a bouncing bunt, sent it to Rodgers, and initiated the bottom of the second inning with a third out. With the Bears at bat, senior designated hitter Molly Rosen quickly walked to first base. Loose, facing a full count, sent a ball deep into right field while Rosen dove to safety on second base.
Loose prepares to swing.
Nava’s next hit went straight to center field, leaving the bases loaded and making way for Rosen to reach home plate. Senior shortstop Carey Maletis sent a ball low down the middle as Loose completed her run, bringing the score to 5-1. Misplaced Sequoia pitches allowed Maletis to reach second and put Cox on base, but a strikeout put a stop to the Bears’ offense.
Nava’s precise third-inning pitches struck a Raven out, but Sequoia was soon able to get a batter on base with a walk. However, their momentum was curtailed by senior right fielder Elise Koo and Rodgers, who intercepted a pop fly to set up M-A’s dominance at the plate.
Nava pitches.
“I feel like as a team, we did really well, hustling, and we had great defense overall. I think our bats were really rolling today. I think for me on the mound, I had a really great day,” Nava said.
Rodgers earned a walk after an uncontrolled pitch hurtled past her head. Freshman Sophiann Lin returned to the plate, securing a walk of her own after misplaced pitches, and Rosen’s batting provided an opening for Rodgers to steal third base off a smooth slide. Rosen walked, loading up the bases.
Rodgers slides into third base.
“When I was at bat, I just focused on being patient with the pitches,” Rosen said. “We knew that this pitcher was gonna be a little wild, so just not swinging at anything that wasn’t good to hit. I think it was mostly just pitch selection.”
Loose took to the plate to hit two arcing fouls, while Rodgers sprinted home, stretching to reach home plate but narrowly getting tagged out, keeping the score at 5-1.
“I’m really glad that we all kept even, even though we were up. I’m glad we didn’t let up because the game could’ve gone either way, and I’m really proud of us,” Rodgers said.
Loose stayed composed to earn a walk herself, once again loading the bases. Clear judgment by Nava and Pandolfo also earned them free walks, bringing Lin and Rosen home, 7-1. After Maletis was hit in the foot by a low pitch, she too walked and carried Loose back home for an 8-1 lead, with each run accompanied by excitement and cheers from the Bears’ dugout.
“We cheer everyone on. We’re in the dugout and we hear it’s silent, we just scream even louder, we don’t let it go quiet,” Rosen said. “And I honestly think if you’re up to bat, you don’t really hear it, but you just feel the support, and it kind of hypes you.”
Cox stepped up to the plate, sending a ball far into left field and allowing Nava to return home to boost the score to 9-1.
Cox swings through after making contact with the ball.
Freshman third baseman Lavietani Taufahema* then found a gap in left-center field, gliding the ball over the Sequoia outfielders just shy of the back fence, as Pandolfo and Maletis sprinted home to raise the score to 11-1. Walks by Rodgers and Lin sent freshman pinch runner Ilaisaane Tuavao home, closing the third inning at 13-1.
M-A started the fourth inning confidently as Taufahema intercepted a bouncing ball and found Rodgers at first base to get an out. Maletis added on by fielding a lofting pop fly. A bunt by the Ravens was snatched by Pandolfo, who passed to Rodgers to end Sequoia’s time at bat.
Nava sent a laser hit towards right field and slid all the way to second base, and Pandolfo followed up with a powerful hit sent straight back towards the pitcher. This created a brief shock for the Ravens, as Nava scored another run, 14-1.
Maletis nailed a drive past Sequoia’s baseman and progressed to first. Then, in a suspenseful sequence triggered by Cox hitting deep into right field, a Sequoia outfielder was forced to run backward and retrieve it. However, the pitcher fumbled the pass, giving Cox just enough time to reach second base and for Maletis to score, 15-1.
In the final play, Rodgers sent a ball glancing off the pitcher’s hands to make way for Cox at home base and secure a 16-1 victory for M-A, due to their 15-point advantage.
“I feel really good. We were really pumped up, we had a good lead going. I feel if we continue this, motivate this whole cycle, we could really take it far,” Nava said.
The Bears will travel to compete against the Notre Dame Tigers on Friday at 4:30 p.m.
*Lavietani Taufahema is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle.
The team circles up to celebrate the win.
