Bear River falls to Linden in shootout in D6 quarterfinals

Sixth-seeded Bear River High School's softball season ended Friday afternoon with a 14-8 loss at No. 3 Linden in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VI quarterfinals. The Bruins (16-9) put the Lions (19-6) on upset watch early by scoring five runs in the top of the first inning. Freshman Ella Bailey cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple before sophomore Adalaide Mason followed with a two-run homer to right field. Linden chipped away over the next two innings and tied the score 5-5 in the third on a double by Bernice Ortega and a Bear River error. Bear River regained the lead in the fourth. AnaMarin Hemings delivered an RBI single before Averie Lopez reached on a single that, combined with Linden errors, allowed two more runs to score and gave the Bruins an 8-5 lead. The game turned in the bottom of the fifth when Linden erupted for seven runs on eight hits. Senior Olivia Fears delivered the decisive blow with a three-run homer to center field as the Lions surged ahead 13-8. As loud as Bear River's bats were to start the game, they were silenced down the stretch, as 11 of the final 13 batters were retired. Bailey was a perfect 4 for 4 at the plate with a triple, double, two singles and three RBIs. Hemings and freshman pitcher Lottie Smith each had three hits, and Lopez collected two hits and an RBI. Bear River finished with 15 hits and stole four bases, including two by Hemings. Linden had 16 hits, led by Fears' 5-for-5 performance with four RBIs and a home run. Millee Holguin had four hits and three RBIs for the Lions. Smith struck out eight over 4 2/3 innings for Bear River. Linden was set to face No. 2 Argonaut (21-8) in the Division VI semifinals Tuesday.