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| PHS softball splits crucial series with Gustine |
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| Written by Marc Aceves / Patterson Irrigator / | |
| Friday, 25 April 2008 | |
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“We're just trying to take each game one at a time now. We're coming out here and giving it our all..” — Kianna Weinzheimer PHS varsity softball player  Patterson baserunner Kianna Weinzheimer watches Gustine short stop Jenny Barboa's throw to home before running to second base, during the first inning of Thursday's game against the Redskins. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator The Tigers (6-5) must close out the 2008 campaign on a five-game winning streak to sneak into the postseason. They took their first step in the right direction Thursday, shutting out visiting Gustine, 5-0. The win comes on the heels of Tuesday’s tough 7-3 loss at the hands of the Redskins in Gustine. With that defeat, the Tigers no longer control their own playoff destiny. “Overall, today’s game was such a big improvement from what we put on the field on Tuesday,” Patterson coach Dave Klein said. “I think that some changes to the lineup helped a bit. We got what we wanted today. We’re back in the hunt.” In search of an offensive boost, Klein summoned freshman Melissa Robles from the Tigers’ JV squad. Robles had been Patterson’s JV leader both atop the hill and at the plate. She was inserted into the Tigers’ starting lineup Thursday, batting out of the five hole and playing second base. Patterson pitcher Mandy Sifuentes mowed down Gustine’s players one by one to begin Thursday’s game. The Tigers wasted little time in the box, providing their ace with plenty of early run support. Patterson’s Jessyca Rico led off the home half of the first with a single. She moved over to second base on a sacrifice bunt and to third base on an errant Gustine pitch. Teammate Kianna Weinzheimer followed, drawing a walk. Weinzheimer stole second base, inducing a poorly thrown ball from the Redskins’ catcher, and allowing Rico to plate the Tigers’ first run.  Patterson's Kendra Young hits a grounder that brought in an RBI for the Tigers in the first. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator Robles followed with a blooper single down the right-field line, moving Kramer up a bag and over to second. Both players advanced on a pass ball, putting runners on second and third with just one out. Patterson’s Kendra Young knocked Kramer in on a fielder’s choice groundout. Robles scored the Tigers’ fourth run of the inning on an error by Gustine’s second baseman. “We’re just trying to take each game one at a time right now,” Weinzheimer said. “We’re coming out here and giving it our all. We just let everything go today and came together as a team.” Sifuentes went into lockdown mode, going the distance while scattering just five hits and striking out five. The Tigers went on to tack on one more insurance run in the bottom of the third inning. Weinzheimer blasted a double to deep left field, narrowly missing a home run. She scooted over to second base on a pass ball, later scoring on Robles’ fielder’s choice groundout. Gustine managed to rally in the top of the sixth — putting runners on second and third with two outs — but a base-running blunder put a halt to any potential comeback attempts. Sifuentes ended the game as it had begun, quietly silencing the Redskins’ bats in order. “We came out today and just tried to remain positive,” Rico said. “I wanted to step up today and really just leave it all out on the field. This team is definitely still thinking playoffs. We want to go all the way.” Tuesday’s affair between the same two teams was a much different story. The visiting Tigers fell behind early, trailing Gustine 7-0 after just two innings. The Redskins capitalized on four Patterson errors while collecting five hits during their initial surge. Patterson’s offense was nonexistent until the fourth inning.  The Tigers' Mandy Sifuentes (center) and Weinzheimer close in on an infield play in the top of the second. Photo by Elias Funez/Patterson Irrigator Sifuentes cracked a sinking liner to left field. The Redskins’ outfielder dropped the ball, allowing Kramer to come around from second and score. Sifuentes, who started on the hill for the Tigers, settled down in the later innings, preventing Gustine from scoring another run during the remainder of the game. Patterson manufactured another threat in the top half of the fifth inning. This time, the Tigers’ rally was cut short by questionable umpiring. Rico led off the inning with a single, her second hit of the afternoon. Teammate Linsey Moeller followed with a walk. Both runners moved up a base on a wild pitch from Gustine’s pitcher. Weinzheimer’s sharp grounder was picked up and thrown home by the Redskins’ infielder in an attempt to nail Rico at the plate, but she scored easily. Klein spotted an opportunity to send Moeller home as well, looking to take advantage of a sleeping Gustine defense. The throw to home plate appeared to be late — with Moeller safely sliding beneath the Redskins’ catcher’s glove. The distraught home plate umpire hesitated to make an initial call, stating he could not tell whether the runner’s foot had ever touched the base. After wavering for a minute on his decision, he eventually called Moeller out, essentially ending the Tigers’ comeback. To reach Marc Aceves at the Irrigator, call 892-6187 or e-mail him at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
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