Trojans fall in Nor-Cal finals, 13-11

The Oak Ridge softball season ended with a wild and crazy 13-11 loss in nine innings to Amador Valley in the Nor-Cal championships on Saturday. Amador Valley out of Pleasanton, the number-eight seed in the tournament, was playing at the sixth-seeded Trojans and rallied to incredibly score nine runs in the last three innings to win the game. The Dons had a 12-11 record before rattling off seven straight wins to finish the season with a 19-11 record, while the Trojans were 24-5. The Trojans opened the game with a run in the bottom of the first inning, as Emery Glaser was hit by a pitch and then scored on Brooklyn Paratore's single. Amador Valley scored four runs in the top of the fourth to take a 4-1 lead, but then the Trojans scored three runs in the bottom of the fourth and three more in the bottom of the fifth to open up a 7-4 lead and needing six outs to win the game. Paratore led off the fourth with a walk, moved to second on Sam Alekman's single and both runners scored Gemma Almont's double. Gia Almont later singled in her sister to tie the game at four. In the fifth, Oak Ridge started the inning with three straight runners reaching base; Carly Short doubled, Paratore singled and Alekman walked. Short scored on Carmen Montes de Oca's sacrifice fly and Paratore came into score on an error by the right fielder. Kyden Walker then singled in Alekman. Down to their last three outs in the top of the seventh inning, Amador Valley miraculously scored four runs all with two outs. The leadoff batter got hit by a pitch and later three consecutive hits drove in four runs and the Dons took an 8-7 lead. Oak Ridge put together a two-out rally of its own in the bottom of the seventh. Montes de Oca walked, moved to third on Gemma Almont's base hit and scored to tie the game at eight when Walker singled her in. Three straight hits, including back-to-back home runs, scored three more runs for Amador Valley in the eighth. Oak Ridge, once again, rallied to tie the score in the bottom of the inning. Jess Szelenyi led off with a single and scored on Glaser's two-run home run. Short then singled, stole second and scored on Alekman's single to tie the game at 11. Amador Valley then won the game with a single followed by a two-run home run in the ninth inning. Oak Ridge pounded how 15 hits, only one less than Amador Valley, with everyone contributing up and down the lineup. Szelenyi had three hits; Short, Paratore, Alekman, Gemma Almont and Walker each had two, while Glaser and Gia Almont had one. Glaser, Short, Paratore, and Alekman each scored two runs, while Szelenyi, Montes de Oca and Gemma Almont scored once. Glaser, Montes de Oca, Gemma Almont and Walker each knocked in two runs, while Paratore, Alekman and Gia Almont had one RBI each. It was a tough day for pitchers Kennedi Freeland and Ellison Schroeder, to say the least. "It was a definitely a wild game," Oak Ridge coach Sam Toy said. "It was a comeback that you always love to see but hate to be on the receiving end of it. It was definitely a tough loss. We were so close and had many opportunities that we couldn't capitalize on. "Amador Valley is a great team and had an unbelievable run in Nor-Cals. My hat is off to them. "I'm extremely proud of our girls. They fought with everything they had that's all you can ask for. This loss doesn't define our season. The girls made history with the 11th section title and competed in the Nor-Cal finals."