FRESNO – Over the past decade there have been certain things that can be counted on come spring time. One of those is the Monache softball team making a deep run in the CIF Central Section playoffs.

After falling last year in the Division 2 Championship Game to St Josephs the Marauders made it back this year after going on the road and defeating Garces 4-3 last week in the semifinals.

Standing in the way this time was Bakersfield Christian, last year’s Division 3 championship team, and the team who knocked Monache out of the state playoffs last year, defeating MHS 3-2 to end their season. Unfortunately just like last year the Marauders came up just short as they failed to mount much offense in a 2-1 loss under a blistering 104 degree sun Saturday afternoon at Margie Wright Diamond on the campus of Fresno State.

MHS fell to 17-6-1 on the season but that record was still good enough to qualify it for the Division 2 state playoffs which begin today.  Monache drew the No. 4 seed and it will host the No. 5 seeded Jackrabbits of Long Beach Poly.  Game time is slated for 4 p.m. Tickets are only available at www.gofan.co.

After two scoreless innings Bakersfield Christian struck first when Dakoda Hilvers reached base with a one out single to center field. She then stole second base to move into scoring position. Sophia Martinez struck out Ashlynn Billington for the second out but couldn’t get leadoff hitter Maddison Misuraca who singled in Hilvers to give the Eagles a 1-0 lead.

The Eagles struck again in the fourth inning when Tia Nichols tripled to straight away center to open the inning. Cailee Carr singled her in to give Bakersfield Christina a 2-0 lead.  

Eagles starting pitcher Anabell Hinojosa kept the Marauder offense in check most of the afternoon, using a good fastball and rise ball to strike out 10 Marauders.

Monache did have couple chances late to tie or take the lead. In the bottom of the fifth inning Avery Smith hit a line drive off of Hinojosas leg for an infield single. Smith got as far as third base but Hinojosa got speedy Devynn Emerson to ground out to short to end the threat.

MHS mounted another threat in the bottom of the seventh inning. Hinojosa started to tire as she walked Danika Sanchez and Aalyha Mendoza to start the inning. Smith movd the runners into scoring position with a sac bunt, giving the Marauders the tying run on second base with one out.

Aaliyah Mosqueda then got the lone Marauder run home when she grounded out to second, scoring Sanchez and moving pinch runner Emily Camacho to third.

It would all come down to the final batter, but Hinojosa found enough in the tank to get the final batter on strikes to seal the victory for Bakersfield Christian.

The Marauders got a strong pitching performance frum junior fireballer Martinez who yielded 2 runs on only 5 hits and struck out 6 Eagles. The problem for MHS was it was only able to muster 2 hits on the afternoon.