Citrus Valley High’s softball team evened its Citrus Belt League record at 2-2 with a pair of victories on April 9 and Tuesday, April 14, but Yucaipa High has taken a two-game lead in the standings with a 4-0 start this month.
The Blackhawks beat cross-town rival Redlands High 9-3 and held off a late rally by Beaumont to defeat the Cougars 7-6 at home on Tuesday.
Yucaipa had to go an extra inning to beat Beaumont 2-1 on April 9 but banged out 11 hits in a 7-1 victory Tuesday over Redlands East Valley.
Cajon is working on a two-game win streak with victories over REV, 8-5 in eight innings on April 9 and 15-4 over Redlands on Tuesday, leaving the Terriers at 0-4 and outscored 52-7 in those four league losses.
Thursday’s games: Yucaipa at Redlands; Citrus Valley at Cajon; Beaumont at REV.
Highlights of the April 9 games
Cajon’s Madison Gallardo and Jaclyn Hear combined for two home runs and four RBI in its 8-5 win over REV in eight innings. Gallardo also pitched three innings of one-hit relief. Jadah Nordby had a pair of hits for REV.
Citrus Valley’s win over Redlands was helped by a five-run outburst in the first inning. The Blackhawks had a 14-hit attack led by Monse Matute’s perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate. Camrynn Culp had a double and two RBI. Natalie Estrada had two hits and two RBI. Victoria Garcez was 3-for-3 and scored twice. Vivian Thomas was 3-for-4 with two doubles.
Mia Bennington had two hits and two RBI for Redlands. Addison Goff of RHS was 3-for-3 and scored twice.
In Yucaipa’s 2-1 squeaker over Beaumont, junior pitcher Brooklyn Dent completed eight innings, allowing just one hit with 12 strikeouts on 117 pitches. Liberty Waysz was 3-for-4 with an RBI. Peyton Seever and Reese Van Arsdale scored the two Thunderbird runs.
Highlights of the April 14 games
Citrus Valley led 7-4 over Beaumont heading to the seventh inning, but the Cougars rallied with two runs off reliever Olivia Acuna to make it close at 7-6. Acuna earned the save.
Cali Leverette went 5.2 innings in the circle, yielding four runs on 10 hits in 88 pitches to get the win. Leah Leivas and Natalie Estrada were both 2-for-3 at the plate for CVHS while Monse Matute drove in two runs. Dani Larsen scored twice for the Blackhawks. No statistics were listed for Beaumont.
Yucaipa pitcher Emily Mendoza tossed a four-hitter and her teammates backed her up with seven runs on 11 hits in the 7-1 win over Redlands East Valley. Peyton Seever was 2-for-4 with a triple and two runs scored. Presley Walker had two doubles and two RBI, and Sophia Bicondova drove in three runs for the Thunderbirds.
Jadah Nordby supplied the only run for REV with a home run in the seventh. Alaina Neal had a double in three trips to the plate.
Cajon opened its game with Redlands with four runs, then scored 11 times over the last two innings to beat the Terriers 15-4 in a game ended by the mercy rule after five frames. Rylee Torres led the Cowgirls with two home runs and five RBI as Cajon collected 15 hits.
Redlands was led by Makayla Stark with two hits and two runs scored. Avery Andrade had one hit and two RBI. The Terriers have been outscored 52-7 in their first four CBL contests.
