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Silverado softball needs late theatrics to defeat Green Valley

It nearly was a nightmare of an ending for Silverado’s softball team Wednesday afternoon.

After blowing a five-run lead in the top of the seventh inning, the Skyhawks could have folded and accepted defeat on their home field. Instead, they turned to some late theatrics to earn a key Sunrise League win.

Freshman Alezandria Guariglia hit a two-out RBI single up the middle to score Megan Johnson with the winning run as the Skyhawks walked off with an 11-10 win over Green Valley.

“Well, I’m glad they fought and came back for the win,” Silverado coach Teresa Ostolaza said. “But I’m a little frustrated they had to put themselves into that situation to have to come back.”

Silverado (7-6, 4-3 Sunrise) led by seven runs after three innings and held a comfortable 9-4 lead heading into the top of the seventh. But the Gators used the momentum they built with their two-run sixth inning into the seventh.

Green Valley put its first six runners on base — getting five consecutive hits to open the seventh — and ended up scoring six runs to grab a 10-9 lead. Silverado starter Alycia Kobashigawa was relieved by Guariglia, who entered with the bases loaded and got the Skyhawks out of the jam.

“Our pitcher started to get a little bit tired and they started to make better contact and the defense just didn’t make the plays behind,” Ostolaza said. “I think (the biggest difference was) confidence and just being young. Sometimes, they have to learn that there’s going to be a battle and they have to rise to the occasion.”

And they did just that.

No. 9 hitter Katie Carder led off the inning with a walk and scored the tying run on an RBI double to right-center field by Johnson. After Mary Dungey was hit by a pitch, Guariglia lasered a pitch between the middle infielders to bring around Johnson, who narrowly beat the throw to the catcher.

“They knew that this game was really big for us,” Ostolaza said. “That’s why they did come out so hot. They were ready to go, and I think they just started questioning themself when we started giving up some hits. They wanted the game, though. They came back and fought.”

Johnson went 3-for-5 with a double, a homer and four RBIs, and Dungey was 2-for-3 with a double and a two-run homer for Silverado. Dalyse Whiteside was 3-for-3 with two doubles and three runs, and Guariglia went 3-for-3 with a double for the Skyhawks.

Brooke Haney was 2-for-4 with a double, a triple and two runs for Green Valley (6-7, 3-5 Sunrise League).

Olivia McClain and Alexa Blazek each went 2-for-4, and Katrina Ramos and Savannah Fabro hit a double apiece for the Gators.

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