The Española Valley softball team took second place last weekend at the Laguna Invitational after losing 3-1 to Hope Christain in the championship game.
The Sundevils defeated Rehoboth High School 11-0 in their opening game and knocked off tournament host Laguna 10-1 before advancing to the championship game.
Hope took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Española tied the score in the top of the third inning on a double by Renee Roybal and an error on Evelyn Caballero’s fly ball to the outfield.
Hope answered with two runs in the bottom of the third inning to grab a 3-1 lead. After a scoreless fourth inning, the Sundevils were held scoreless in the top of the fifth.
Hope was declared the winner when the game was called under a time limit.
Roybal averaged 10 strikeouts per game in her three starts for Española. Caballero had two home runs, one each against Rehoboth and Laguna.
Española is 3-2 on the season. The Sundevils are the two-time defending District 2AAAA champions
“Strikeouts have been our Achilles heel so far,” Española coach Robbie Garcia said. “We need to cut down on them, put the ball in play and make the other team field it.”
Buy the print version of this week’s SUN for a preview of the Sundevils’ season.