The varsity softball team lost yesterday, 0-2, to third place Saratoga (7-4). Paly is currently ranked fourth in the El Camino Division of the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League, with a record of 4-7 in league (7-12).
With a dramatic seventh inning win under their belts after beating second place Fremont last week, the Lady Vikes were hoping to pull off one more victory yesterday. Palo Alto beat Saratoga 1-0 in its last face-off, but up against Saratoga?s strong pitching, the team knew it would have to work hard offensively to beat the Falcons a second time.
Junior shortstop Kelly Fangonilo started off the first inning with a double, but freshman right-fielder Nikki Remmel, senior center-fielder Kalena Masching, and freshman left-fielder Sisley Brewer left her stranded there to end the top of the first.
Paly?s second and last hit of the inning was a bunt by senior second baseman Elena Rizza. The team was looking up after Rizza stole second and freshman third baseman Kristine Miller was up to bat, but Saratoga notched two more strikeouts in the second inning, leaving a runner stranded in scoring position for the second time during the game.
Saratoga scored in the bottom of the second after a stolen base and a double that knocked the runner in. Freshman pitcher Christie Cory tallied her first strikeout of the game.
The third inning was a quick three up, three down for both teams. The top of the fourth inning was another three up, three down, which gave Saratoga?s pitcher her ninth strikeout of the game. Cory hit Saratoga?s second batter which advanced the runners to first and second in the bottom of the fourth. Rizza made an out at first, but the runners advanced to second and third and after Fangonilo bobbled a ball one run scored, turning the scoreboard to 0-2. The inning ended with a tagout at third and Cory?s second strikeout of the game.
The fifth inning was much like the third with another quick three up, three down for both teams.
After a strikeout by senior catcher Leah Willis and a flyout by Fangonilo, the sixth inning started to look like a repeat of the fifth, but Remmel was hit by a pitch, which placed Paly?s third runner on base for the entire game. Masching grounded out to the pitcher to end the top of the inning and to strand Remmel at first. Cory marked her third strikeout in the bottom of the sixth.
The game ended on yet another quick three up, three down at the top of the seventh inning. Saratoga?s pitcher totaled 14 strikeouts against Palo Alto.
The team is looking forward to finishing off its season against cross-town rival, Gunn High School, this Thursday at Palo Alto. Gunn is ranked last in the El Camino Division with a record of 2-8. If Paly can end its season with a win against Gunn, the chance of proceeding to Central Coast Section will increase.