Yucaipa is on a hot streak. With its 2-0 shutout over Beaumont on Tuesday, the Thunderbirds softball team has won 10 in a row and leads the Citrus Belt League by three games with two to play.
The T-Birds host second-place Redlands East Valley on Thursday (April 30) and close out the regular season on May 5. Other CBL games Thursday feature Cajon at Redlands and Citrus Valley at Beaumont.
Standings through April 28: Yucaipa 8-0 (19-6-1), Redlands East Valley 5-3 (16-8-1), Citrus Valley 4-4 (10-11), Beaumont 4-4 (14-10), Cajon 3-5 (8-18), Redlands 0-8 (5-15).
April 28 games
Yucaipa 2, Beaumont 0 — Brooklyn Dent, the girls athlete of the week selected by the Inland Group of daily newspapers, pitched a three-hit shutout in a 2-0 victory over Beaumont Tuesday.
Dent is now 5-1 on the season with a 1.80 earned run average in 21 appearances with two shutouts. Her 140 strikeouts ranks No. 2 in CIF Southern Section Division 2. Her ERA is ranked seventh in Division 2.
Beaumont’s pitcher had a strong game as well, allowing the Thunderbirds just three hits, but the Cougars coach does not publicize any stats for any of his players or any box scores on MaxPreps, the lone exception among CBL softball and baseball coaches.
Yucaipa scored both runs in the fourth inning on Shae DiCecca’s base hit. Reese Van Arsdale was 2-for-3 with a run scored and a double. Liberty Waysz was 1-for-3 with a run scored to account for the T-Birds offense.
Citrus Valley 16, Redlands 6 — The Blackhawks jumped on Redlands pitching for nine runs in the first four innings before Redlands rallied with five runs in the fifth to close the game to 9-5. Citrus Valley then scored seven in the bottom of the fifth to end the game under the mercy rule.
Jestine Citau had a big day at the plate for Citrus Valley with a home run, triple and double, five RBIs and a run scored. Monte Matute was 2-for-2 with a home run and four RBIs. Addison King and Camrynn Culp each drove in two runs with a collective five hits.
Leah Leivas was 4-for-4 with a home run, three runs scored and an RBI. Natalie Estrada and Dannie Larson each had three hits. Cali Leverette earned the win in the circle for Citrus Valley.
For Redlands, Avery Andrade was 1-for-3 with a double and two RBIs. Makayla Stark was 1-for-3 with two RBIs and a run scored. Briana Pasillas was 2-for-2, scored twice and drove in a run. Kayla Knudsen had a base hit and an RBI.
Redlands East Valley 6, Cajon 2 — The victory kept the Wildcats in second place behind Yucaipa as they prepare to face the Thunderbirds on Thursday. No stats were reported for either team as of 5 p.m. Wednesday (April 29).
Coming up
April 30 — Redlands East Valley at Yucaipa; Cajon at Redlands; Citrus Valley at Beaumont.
May 5 — Redlands at Yucaipa; Cajon at Citrus Valley; Redlands East Valley at Beaumont.
