PANTHER JV HOLDS ON FOR WIN
By Marc Atwood
marcatwood@aol.com
 
(3/27/08 Chico, CA) The Chico junior varsity softball team controlled most of Thursday's game against Pleasant Valley and went on to take a 5-4 win at Rex Murphy Field.
 
The Panthers opened up the scoring in the top of the first inning when a single by Breanda Sloan allowed Nicole Weeber to come home. They lost a scoring opportunity in the top of the second inning when Sarah Butterfield struck out and left Ashyla Roe and Alicia Salas stranded. The Vikings tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the second when a sacrifice by Kendra Madison drove in Alicia McMorrow.
 
Chico added another run in the top of the third inning when a double by Sloan brought in Weeber. Marissa Weeber also came home to put the Panthers up 3-1. A scoring chance for PV was halted in the bottom of the third inning when a flyout by McMorrow left Robyn Krammer and Rachael Randolph stranded.
 
Chico pushed another run across in the top of the fifth inning on a groundout by Marissa Weeber that brought in Nicole Weeber. The Vikings came within a run at 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth when a triple by McMorrow drove in Kaitlyn Breneman and Randolph. Pleasant Valley evened the score in the bottom of the sixth inning when Marisha Daniels scored as Krammer reached base on an error. They were unable to go ahead as Kaitlyn Fisher was forced out.
 
Sloan helped the Panthers take the lead back in the top of the seventh inning when her single allowed Nicole Weeber to score. The Vikings' last chance at tying the game was wiped out when Lyndsie Lawry was tagged out trying to reach third base on a single by Morgan Gallaway.
 
Salas went 2-for-4 for Chico with a pair of singles. Nicole Webber was 3-for-3 with two singles, a triple, reached base on an error, and scored four of the Panthers' runs. Sloan went 3-for-4 with two singles, a double, and three RBIs. Savannah Stoner pitched the entire game, allowing seven hits, striking out one, and walking six.
 
McMorrow went 2-for-3 for PV with a pair of triples, two RBIs, and scored once. Madison was 2-for-4 with two singles, a sacrifice, and an RBI. Gallaway went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles. Tori Urrutia went the distance for the Vikings, allowing 12 hits and striking out seven.