Piedmont High School’s softball team split a pair of West Alameda County Conference matchups. The Highlanders defeated San Lorenzo at home on April 26, 15-5 in a game shortened to five innings due to the mercy rule.
Piedmont fell behind 2-0 in the top of the first when an error by third baseman Sa’Mara Levi allowed two runs to score. Levi made up for it in the bottom of the inning, hitting a triple to get the Highlanders on the board and then scoring herself on an error by San Lorenzo first baseman Cemira Wiley. Caitlin Boothby also scored on the error, giving Piedmont a 3-2 lead.
Asiyah Bynum hit a two-run single in the top of the second to put the Grizzlies back on top.
But the Highlanders scored seven in the bottom of the frame to take control of the game. Miya Fujimoto singled in the tying run to get things going. Levi then singled in two to give Piedmont the lead for good. Sophena Tuli was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to bring home another run. Levi then scored on a wild pitch. Sabrina Oliphant and Mia Leggett later drew consecutive walks with the bases loaded to make it 10-4.
Boothby doubled in a run in the third and the Highlanders got four more in the bottom of the fourth to get the 10-run lead. Samantha Ronen started the game for Piedmont and went four innings, allowing five runs (two earned) on four hits. She walked six and struck out four. Fujimoto pitched the fifth, striking out three and walking one.
Alisson Nurinda took the loss for San Lorenzo, going the first three innings, allowing 11 runs (eight earned) on five hits with 10 walks and two strikeouts.
Levi finished 3-for-4 with three RBI and two runs scored. Boothby went 1-for-2 with the two RBI. Fujimoto was 1-for-2 with an RBI and three runs scored. Bynum was 1-for-3 with two RBI for the Grizzlies.
On April 24, Piedmont fell to host San Leandro, 10-0 in a five-inning game due to the mercy rule. Pirates pitchers Julianna Morales and Jaylyn Oseguera Hov combined on a one-hitter.
Angelina Wu had the only hit for Piedmont, a single leading off the game. Morales went four innings, striking out four and walking one. Oseguera worked a perfect fifth.
Marley Santos went 2-for-2 with two RBI and two runs scored for San Leandro. Jade Orta was 2-for-4 with with two runs scored and an RBI.
Fujimoto went the distance for the Highlanders, allowing four earned runs in four innings. She struck out one and walked four.
Piedmont next hosts Mt. Eden on May 1.