LOWER LAKE >> A defensive gem by shortstop Ashlynn Mock helped Lower Lake stave off a major threat by Piner in the top of the third inning on Tuesday afternoon as the Trojans beat the Piner Prospectors of Santa Rosa 9-3 in the non-league softball opener for both teams at Lower Lake.
Lower Lake (1-0) was leading 3-1 in the top of the third with a run in for the Prospectors and the bases loaded with two outs. A grounder earmarked for center field ended up in Mock’s glove instead and she stretched out to field the ball and flip to second base for the inning-ending force play.
“That would have been two runs,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said. “It would have been a tie game and the inning still going. That was a big defensive play.”
Lower Lake staked winning pitcher Shelbie Harris to a 3-0 lead with three first-inning runs. The Trojans came back with two more in the bottom of the third for a 5-1 lead. Piner closed with two runs in the fifth only to watch the Trojans answer with three in the bottom half.
“Their pitcher was solid and threw with good velocity,” Emberson said of the Prospectors. “They’re not a bad team.”
While winning pitcher Shelbie Harris struggled with her control at times, walking eight, she also struck out 10 while tossing a two-hitter. Harris retired the side in order each of the first two inning before running into trouble in the top of the third.
Harris’ battery mate, sophomore catcher Destiny Apodaca, had a big day at the plate, knocking three doubles off the outfield wall. She finished 3-for-4 with three RBIs.
“She killed it,” Emerson said. “They (the three doubles) were hit on a line.”
Azuree Meza also went 3-for-4 for the Trojans in her season debut. She led the Trojans with four RBIs. Emma Diener added two hits and Alex DeGraw drove in two runs.
The Trojans finished 17-9 a year ago and are looking to contend for the North Central League I title again this year, according to Emerson. They return to action Thursday in Calistoga at 3:30 p.m.
