Smith and Venegas Homer to Open the Jags First Conference Game
By Malaya Street
After a week of rescheduled games due to the windy and rainy weather, the San José City Jags (7-6, 1-0 Coast) finally started their first game of conference at home against Chabot College Gladiators (2-16, 0-1) and won 6-1.
It was the first sunny day of March which was perfect timing for the Jags to hit some homeruns. The Jags have not hit one since their first game of pre-season on February 3rd by Jade Henry. Karissa Smith started the game, in the bottom of the second inning, with a solo homerun over left field to score the Jags' first run. In the third inning, after Kiya Sandoval scored and Melissa Felix was on second, Malia Venegas hit the scoreboard in right field for a two-run homerun.
In the past thirteen games, Venegas averages .325 with nine RBIs, nine runs, five walks, and five stolen bases.
Alaina Valdez, the starting pitcher, allowed no runs with two hits, one walk, and seven strikeouts. Chelsea Rayment relieved Valdez in the 6th inning and allowed one run, two hits, one walk, and four strikeouts.
In eleven games, Valdez has dominated with an ERA of 0.58 with forty-two strikeouts, twenty-eight hits, four earned runs, eight runs, and eighteen walks.
The Jags were up 4-0 after Venegas' homerun, and Henry continued the momentum with a single between shortstop and third baseman. Then Henry stole her first base of the season and was in scoring position on second. Haley Castro had an infield hit after the Chabot's pitcher attempted to dive at the ball but missed as it rolled away from her. Gabi Jordan had an RBI single to center field to score Henry and increase the lead to 5-0.
In the 5th inning, after Valdez had three strikeouts in a row, Henry singled to left field, but the left fielder overthrew the ball to second. Henry was able to advance to third safely to start the inning. Bella Caruso-Commisso pinched hit for Castro and hit a deep sacrifice fly to center field to score Henry as the 6th run for the Jags.
In the 6th inning, Chabot hit a double to score the runner on second. This run was their first and only run of the game. In the 7th inning, Rayment struck out the last three batters to end the game.
Malia Venegas went 3 for 4 with one homerun, one triple, and one double. She was one single away from hitting a cycle. Karissa Smith went 2 for 3 with one run, one RBI, and two stolen bases. Jade Henry went 2 for 4 with two runs and one stolen base.
On March 4, the Jags play a doubleheader at home at 11am and 1pm against Porterville College Pirates and watch it live on YouTube @sanjosecitysoftball7680.