Gaels get something to build on with tie
Bishop Gorman's softball team has played from behind in all 10 games this season, and the first nine ended in defeat.
Thanks to quality at-bats from the top of the lineup and a lot of determination, the Gaels finally found a different result Thursday, even if it wasn't quite the one they wanted.
Gorman rallied from a 4-0 third-inning deficit to finish in a 5-5 tie with Tech in the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park. The game was called because of a time limit.
"It's not what we wanted, but it's much better than where we were," Gaels coach Kevin Smith said. "The big key was our girls fought all the way to the end."
Gorman (0-9-1), which lost to San Fernando (Calif.) 8-0 in its first pool game Thursday, was outscored 101-27 in its first nine games. The Gaels' roster has only two returning letter winners.
"There has been a lot of learning in every inning for this team," Smith said. "We don't have a lot of girls who have played many games."
Things didn't look good for the Gaels when they faced a four-run deficit and Tech fireballer Amanda Roark, who struck out six of Gorman's first nine hitters.
Consecutive two-out singles by O'Sheyon Rollins, Alexandria Gordon and Gracie Martinez pulled the Gaels to within 4-2 in the third.
After Tech (8-4-1) scored in the top of the fourth, the same trio of Gorman hitters triggered another two-out rally in the fifth. Rollins singled, Gordon tripled, and Martinez singled to trim the lead to 5-4. Martinez then scored the tying run on a triple by Miranda Robles.
"The top of the order did a lot of damage for us," Smith said. "To be able to come back against a good pitcher is big for our confidence."
The Gaels had a chance to win in the bottom of the seventh, putting two runners on base with no outs. Roark made a nice play on a bunt to force a runner at third base, then retired the next two batters on a popout and a grounder.
Roark finished with 13 strikeouts. Tech's Nicole Lesniak went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and a run, and Lauren Lesniak went 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.
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THURSDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS
BASEBALL
Rancho’s Gabe Chavira singled home Scott Koenen with one out in the bottom of the sixth inning to give the Rams a 3-2 victory over visiting Boca Raton (Fla.) in the Bishop Gorman Desert Classic.
Arbor View’s Nick Urban was 3-for-4 with a triple and scored the winning run on an error in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 9-8 victory over Lone Peak (Utah) in the Bishop Gorman Desert Classic.
SOFTBALL
Palo Verde’s Melissa McCormick went 8-for-8 with three home runs, three doubles and a triple as Palo Verde defeated Rancho 10-0 and Maranatha (Calif.) 10-2 in the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park.
Centennial’s Jessica Cooper pitched a one-hitter in an 8-0 victory over Eldorado and combined with Mikayla Djordjevic to no-hit Faith Lutheran in a 16-0 victory in the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park.
