Piedmont edges Acalanes, 7-6
The Piedmont High School softball team beat visiting Acalanes on April 17, 7-6. The Highlanders had to hang on for dear life as the Dons scored twice in the top of the seventh before Miya Fujimoto struck out Gabby Huerta looking to end the game.
Fujimoto went the distance, allowing two earned runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Maya Shoenhair went the distance for Acalanes, allowing five earned runs on eight hits with six strikeouts and four walks.
Piedmont scored runs in each of the first four innings including a four-run third. Samantha Ronen singled in one run to break a 2-2 tie. Cyntiche Kouadio then doubled in two and went to third on one error and scored on another.
Acalanes got two back in the top of the fourth, scoring on a fielder’s choice and a sacrifice fly. Kouadio singled in another run in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-4.
A sacrifice fly and an error got the Dons two runs in the top of the first. Ronen doubled in Fujimoto in the bottom of the inning to make it 2-1.
In the second, Fujimoto singled in a run to tie it up.
In the seventh, Esa Orman blasted a one-out, solo homer to cut it to 7-5. Santana Tamayo drew a walk. With two outs, Shoenhair singled in a run. Then Fujimoto got Huerta to end it.
Kouadio went 3-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Ronen went 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Fujimoto was 1-for-2 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Shoenhair was 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. Orman was 1-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored.
On April 15, Piedmont lost 13-12 at Healdsburg when the Greyhouds scored four in the sixth and three in the seventh. A wild pitch scored the tying and winning runs. Fujimoto took the loss, going the final 3 2/3 innings and allowing seven runs on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks. Ronen went the first three innings, allowing six runs (three earned) on four hits with six walks and no strikeouts.
Mia Halverson went the distance for the win, allowing 11 earned runs on 14 hits with five walks and four strikeouts.
Edie Elmquist and Sa’mara Levi were each 3-for-5 with three runs scored. Levi knocked in two while Elmquist drove in one. Kouadio was 3-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Fujimoto was 2-for-5 with two runs scored. Ronen was 1-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Izzy Osborn was 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Hannah Levine-Smith was 2-for-4 with three runs. Ashley Jenkins was 0-for-3 but had two RBI and two runs scored.
On April 14, Piedmont lost 9-7 at Oakland Tech. The Highlanders rallied for four runs in the top of the seventh but couldn’t complete the comeback. Angelina Wu singled to start the seventh for Piedmont and Fujimoto then tripled pinch-runner Teah Suhr in. Ronen then singled to make it 9-5. Levi then tripled and eventually scored on a Kouadio ground out. But that was it as Hannah Joerger grounded out to end the game.
Levi was 3-for-4 with a double, triple, two RBI and a run scored. Elmquist was 2-for-4 with two RBI and two runs. Fujimoto was 3-for-4 with two triples, three runs scored and an RBI. She also started, allowing three runs (two earned) in two innings despite not allowing a hit. She struck out five and walked four. Ronen went the final four, allowing six runs (three earned) on one hit with seven walks and five strikeouts.
The Bulldogs scored five in the third and built an 8-1 lead early.
Piedmont (6-5) was scheduled to play at Tennyson on April 18. The Highlanders will host Lick-Wilmerding-San Francisco on April 22.