Oak Ridge gets best of Folsom, 4-3

Two softball teams struggling near the bottom of the Sierra Foothill League standings met Friday for a final game before spring break. Both teams, Oak Ridge and Folsom, were desperately needing a win and the teams played a great game before the Trojans scored the go-ahead run in the top of the seventh inning and went on to win the game, 4-3. In the seventh, Gemma Almont led off the top of the seventh inning with a home run, and the Trojans held on for the win. The win improved Oak Ridge's record to 2-5 in the Sierra Foothill League, while dropping the Bulldogs to 1-6. Oak Ridge opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third inning. Kennedi Freeland started the inning off the same way as Almont did in the seventh, with a solo home run. Almont then hit a one out single, stole second, advanced to third on ground out and then scored on an error by the Bulldogs on a ball hit by Hayden Chua. Camdyn Glaser then singled to score Chua. Folsom got one run back in the bottom of the inning on a Sophie Green home run. Folsom then tied the score with two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Raygan Mercado doubled and Brooklyn Jackson then singled to put runners on first and third base. Mariah Wilson then doubled to score Mercado and move pinch-runner Nola Nguyen to third. Makenna Padilla then grounded out to score Nguyen to tie the game at three. "This game was a great step in the right direction," Oak Ridge coach Katelin Eccles said. "It was nice to get a win going into spring break so the girls can have a winning mentality for their week off and then we will get right back to it. We will continue to work hard and hone in on the little things. We look forward to competing in the second half of the season." Despite the loss, Folsom played a good game. "I thought our pitchers (Brooklyn and Raygan) threw very well against a strong lineup," Folsom coach Sheena Jackson said. "We also hit well. The difference in the game was our one bad defensive inning. Overall, it was a strong showing for our girls."