Bulldog third baseman Karyme DeSantiago reaches down for a pickoff attempt during a recent game for the Lady Dog softball team.
Photo by Lou Martin
Tuesday’s April 3 matchup between host Mojave High School and Virgin Valley began slowly but turned into a slugfest for the Dawgs. The game was the final tune up for the Lady Dogs prior to opening the 3A Sunrise Conference season Monday April 9 at Boulder City. The Bulldogs scored 17 runs on 18 hits to the Rattlers 10 runs on only 3 hits. Ally Wright got the Bulldogs offense going with a single to start the second inning. Wright advanced to second on a ground out and scored the game’s first run on a Karyme DeSantiago single. The Rattlers tied the game 1-1 in their half of the inning on two walks and a Bulldogs error. The Bulldogs loaded the bags in the third on an error, single by Kylie Cannon and a walk to Wright. DeSantiago followed with a double clearing the bases to give the Dogs a short lived 4-1 advantage. The Rattlers responded with three runs to tie the game once again on two Bulldog errors a walk and a triple making the score 4-4 after three innings. Kari Wakefield reached first on a Rattler error to begin the fourth inning scoring on a Savannah Price single to center field. Price scored on a fly ball to left upping the Dawgs lead to 6-4. Cannon added a single, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on a Wright single giving the Dogs a 7-4 lead. Not to be denied the Rattlers took advantage of two walks and a Bulldog error loading the bases in the bottom of the inning. All scored on a line drive double to center field knotting the score at 7-7. Another Bulldog error gave the Rattler a 9-7 lead after four full innings. The Bulldogs got one run back on a Kaysha Heath singe followed by a double from Calee Clem. The Rattlers took advantage of a hit batter sandwiched between two walks to take a 10-8 lead into the sixth inning. The Bulldogs blew the game wide open scoring 8 runs on 4 errors, a single by Heath, doubles from Wakefield and Price and a triple off the bat of Taylor Barnum giving the Dawgs a 16-10 lead. The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh inning on singles by Jessee Barnum and Wakefield. Clem shut down the Rattlers in the last two innings earning the win in relief. Wakefield led all hitters with three hits followed by 7 Dawgs with two hits. The Bulldogs ended preseason with a 9-7 record going into Monday’s game against the Eagles who are strong throughout their lineup.
