by Wayne Lee – Sports Editor
The Eagle Point baseball and softball teams made the state playoffs this year with the Lady Eagles traveling to fourth-ranked Ridgeview while the baseball team traveled to fourth-ranked Summit, both on May 26. The results were a stark contrast.
The Lady Eagles narrowly lost their May 26 post-season game to fourth-ranked Ridgeview 6-5 while the Eagles baseball team traveled to fourth-ranked Summit where they were blanked 8-0.
The Lady Eagles opened the game in the top of the first with a single by Emary Almaraz and a bunt single by Mady Dean. Almaraz eventually scored on an error by the catcher, and Eagle Point had a 1-0 lead.
The Ravens came back in the bottom of the third with a one-out walk. An error allowed the runner to advance to second and a double in the gap scored the run and tie the game. A ground out advanced the runner to third before a two-out single to left put Ridgeview up 2-1.
The top of the fifth is where the Lady Eagles did the most damage. Naomi Jackson singled and Brylee Leonardo reached on an error. Almaraz grounded out to advance the runners and Dean then laid down a bunt which she beat out for a single to drive in the tying run.
Riley Jacoby grounded out to the pitcher to drive in Leonardo, Kady Ledbetter singled to right to drive in Almaraz and Allison Martin singled up the middle to drive in Dean to put Eagle Point up 5-2. But it was not to last.
Ridgeview responded with a run in the bottom half of the inning and added three more in the sixth before hanging on for the 6-5 win. The Lady Eagles’ offense was led by the top of the order with Almaraz going 2×4 and scoring twice followed by Dean going 2×4 with an RBI and a run scored. Leonardo went the distance throwing six full innings giving up six runs on 10 hits and had eight strikeouts. She threw 130 pitches, 79 for strikes.
Eagle Point ends the year 15-12 overall and 11-7 in league.
Baseball
Unfortunately for the Eagle Point baseball team, they ran into Summit’s Ryker Hartlaub. The Storm pitcher made quick work of the Eagles, throwing a complete game no-hitter on just 81 pitches while striking out eight and walking none in an 8-0 shutout victory. The Eagles, who went down in order in every inning, close the year 11-15 overall and 10-8 in league.
