LOWER LAKE >> Justin-Siena of Napa scored three times in the top of the ninth inning to beat the Lower Lake Trojans 6-3 in an extra-inning non-league softball marathon on Thursday afternoon at Lower Lake High School.
In a game matching two teams that could end up meeting again in the North Coast Section Division IV playoffs in May, Lower Lake (1-1) forced extra innings by scoring twice in the bottom of the sixth to knot the score at 3-3. The Trojans had a chance to pull in front before the inning ended, but a hard smash off the bat of Adrianna Illia was fielded cleanly by the Justin-Siena pitcher for the out.
Lower Lake had another chance to win the game in the seventh but once again the Justin-Siena defense came through, making outs on two well-struck balls by the Trojans.
“We hit the ball well today and made plays, but that is a solid defensive team,” Lower Lake coach Chris Emberson said of the Braves, who compete in the Marin County Athletic League. “We had our opportunities, but their shortstop and catcher were phenomenal.”
Justin-Siena (4-0) took advantage of a wild Ashlynn Mock in the top of the first to score a pair of runs, one on a bases-loaded walk.
“She had a tough first inning but she settled down after that and threw the ball pretty well,” Emberson said of the senior, who struck out one and walked five during her complete-game effort.
Lower Lake (1-1) got one of those runs back in the bottom of the first. Justin-Siena scored again in the third to go up 3-1 and the score remained unchanged until the Trojans’ two-run sixth.
Each team made only one error and Lower Lake’s miscue didn’t cost the team, according to Emberson.
Lower Lake also flashed a little leather of its own, including Mikelynn Rowe’s catch in center field in the top of the second inning that started a double play.
The two teams combined for 23 hits. Azuree Meza led the Trojans by going 3-for-5 with a RBI while Destiny Apodaca, Alex DeGraw and Jolean Scarborough added two hits apiece. Katrina Rinoldi (1-for-4) also had a RBI.
Lower Lake was scheduled to participate in a multi-team scrimmage today in Santa Rosa but it has been canceled because of a storm threatening to hit the area. The Trojans’ next scheduled game is Tuesday at home against St. Vincent at 3:30 p.m. They return to Santa Rosa on Thursday to play Montgomery.
