Mariana Casarez ended her high school softball career going four-for-four in Monday night’s 12-6 win over Caldwell, which included a six-run burst in the second inning by the Lady Tigers with hits from Casarez, Brande Breithaupt and a home run by Salome Cardona.
Head coach Meghann Infantino was pleased with the conclusion of their 2021 season.
“It’s a great win,” she said. “Especially against a great Caldwell team.”
“We had 18 hits that game, so it’s something we’ve been working for all season. I’m sad that it came together the last game of the season, but it sure shows the potential for next year,” she said.
Infantino also bragged about the perseverance of her team.
“ W e h a d every bad thing possible happen to us,” she said. “(For them) to come out and not give up that last game even though they know they’re not going to the playoffs and still push so hard. You can’t beat that, that’s priceless.”
In addition to Casarez, Cardona and Breithaupt, who combined for 10 hits, Haven Jimenez and Hannah Rodriguez also led at the plate with two hits each. Kaitlyn Rash, Jessica Flores, McKena Lopez a n d E m m a Whitsel also had one hit during Monday’s game.
Jimenez led from the mound with one strikeout in seven innings.
This was the final game for Casarez, Rodriguez, Rash and Jena Locklin.
“The heart is unreal (with them),” Infantino said. “You can’t teach that into a kid.”
“Our kids having that much after such a horrible year is priceless. You don’t get that at every 5A or every playoff team,” she said. “Had we had a good enough year to make the playoffs, that’s the type of team that goes deep in the playoffs. Because the heart is what matters the most.”
The Lady Tigers finish the season with a record of 3-11 in District 19-3A.
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