Perfection: Marquez mows down Mendo
Anastasia Marquez struck out 13 of the 15 Eagles she faced to record an epic perfect game
Simply stated, Anastasia Marquez turned in one of the greatest pitching performances in West Valley's storied history Saturday. The first-year phenom, backed by a nine-run, 11-hit Viking attack, struck out 13 of the 15 Mendocino she faced in WVC's 9-0 run-rule win over the Eagles in game one of Saturday's twinbill at Viking Field.
Marquez (2-0) struck out the side in the 1st, 3rd and 5th innings, and surrendered just a 6-3 groundout in the 2nd and a popout to 3rd to open the 4th. Mendo batters struck out swinging nine times, as Marquez worked the black to perfection...literally.
West Valley (11-0) exploded out of the gate with six runs on six hits in the 1st. Tyla Arbuckle, Andrea DeJesus and Jasmine Mixco lined back-to-back-to-back singles to open the inning. Arbuckle, who leads the state with 19 stolen bases, ten more than the next-nearest player, stole 2nd, went to 3rd on a passed ball and scampered home on the DeJesus one-bagger. Marissa Rodriguez, Gabriella Diotalevi and Arbuckle also delivered RBI singles, as the Vikings sent 11 batters to the plate. DeJesus had a two-run triple off the leftfield fence in the 3rd for the last two WVC runs.
Arbuckle finished 3-for-4 with an RBI, two runs-scored and a pair of steals. DeJesus was 2-for-3 with two RBI and two runs-scored. Raylene Cruz doubled and finished 2-for-3 with two runs-scored.
If not for the Marquez perfection and the incendiary offense in game one, the talk around NorCal softball circles would be about a spectacular game-two outing from Makayla Villapando. The West Valley catcher broke open a 1-1 tie in the 3rd with an inside-the-park grand slam off the centerfield fence that scored Brianna Chambers Lee, Alina Perez and Sadie Heming ahead of her. Villapando wasn't content, however. She ended the game with a one-out solo shot in the 5th, her team-leading third dinger of the year, that sent everyone home early.
Villapando was 2-for-3 with five RBI, while Chambers Lee went 2-for-2 with two runs scored. Arbuckle stayed torrid with a 2-for-3, three runs-scored, two-stolen base outing. She finished the doubleheader a combined 5-for-6 with five runs-scored and four thefts. Amelia Sizemore picked up her first collegiate win in the circle. and Anna Bean got the save.
West Valley travels to Sacramento Tuesday for a noon/2pm doubleheader against Cosumnes River (6-4) and then returns to Viking Field Friday (2/21) for a pair against Feather River (6-2). Game times are noon and 2pm.
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