REV starts quickly, routs Redlands

REDLANDS – The Redlands East Valley High softball team scored early and often on Thursday to defeat host Redlands 12-3.

The Wildcats scored five first-inning runs to seize control and then cruised to victory.

Alaena Martinez drove in two runs with a single in the first, while Juliane Legaspi contributed a run-scoring single, and Jadah Nordby drove in a run with a groundout.

Legaspi collected three hits and drove in two runs on the day for REV. Nordby and Martinez chipped in with two hits and two RBI apiece.

Legaspi described what the game is like when the Wildcats are hitting and putting runners on base.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “The world around us stops and all you feel is like us and the game. Our energy and everything is just incredible.”

Grace Twente provided the biggest blow for REV, hitting a two-run home run over the fence in right field in the fourth inning. The Wildcats mobbed Twente at the plate after her hit.

It was a homecoming of sorts for REV coach Brandon Ford, who coached Redlands until landing at REV five years ago.

“It was good to see us chip away and score runs almost every inning,” Ford said. “We have a young team – we have five seniors and we have nine freshmen and three sophomores. There have been a lot of ups and downs. We’ve been in a lot of games but haven’t been able to close them all out.”

Redlands (4-15 overall, 0-6 league) scored single runs in the first, second, and third innings. Sofia Akimoto led the Terriers with two hits and an RBI. Shay Figueroa also had a hit and an RBI for the Terriers.

Isa Navarro pitched three innings for REV to get the pitching victory. She allowed all three runs (one earned) while giving up three hits, striking out two and walking five.

“They had a big inning in the first inning, and we couldn’t come back from that,” Redlands coach Nate Roque said. “We had opportunities. We had the bases loaded in the first inning but couldn’t get that big hit.”

Though the Terriers are winless in league, Roque is encouraged.

“The kids are battling and they’re competing,” Roque said. “We didn’t give up at all today.”

Standings – Beaumont 10-8, 5-1; Cajon 10-12, 4-2; Yucaipa 13-9, 4-2; Citrus Valley 13-10, 3-3 ; REV 8-15, 2-4; Redlands 4-15, 9-6.

The victory kept REV (8-15, 2-4) alone in fifth place in the CBL.