TRACY, Calif. – Senior right fielder Haley Kim plated freshman Claire Krotine with two outs in the sixth to complete a four-run comeback as St. Francis nipped Enochs, 4-3, in the finale of the NFHS NorCal Leadoff Classic girls' varsity softball tournament at Tracy Ballpark Friday afternoon.
The thriller over the Eagles immediately followed a 3-0 shutout of Central Catholic, thanks to a one-hitter by senior Hope Jenkins. The Troubadours extend their win streak to five games, improving to 16-2 overall.
Hope Jenkins totaled 23 strikeouts in the pitching circle, while twin sister Grace Jenkins had three of St. Francis' eight total hits for the day.
In the nightcap, Enochs crafted an early 3-0 lead, scoring a pair of unearned runs off the starter Amy Abueg in the first inning, then adding an another with Miranda Temple's leadoff triple against Hope Jenkins in the third.
St. Francis gained a run back in the fourth on an Enochs error, then tied the proceedings at 3-3 on a two-run rally in the fifth. Francesca Guerrera reached on another Eagle error, G. Jenkins moved Guerrera to third a single through the right side, then H. Jenkins drove in both Troubie teammates on a live drive to center.
Enochs infield woes continued into the sixth, with Claire Krotine reaching on another error to lead off. Olivia McFarland moved her to second on a sacrifice bunt, then Kim drove Krotine in for the go-ahead on a base hit to left.
In Friday's opener, Hope Jenkins struck out 14 batters in her one-hit shutout of CCHS while supplying one of the Troubadours' three hits for the game. Hope put St. Francis on the board in the first inning, driving in Abueg from second on a single to left.
Hope and Grace Jenkins each singled in the sixth to ignite a two-run rally. As she did in the first, Abueg led off the frame with a walk. She then hustled to third on Grace's rip up the middle before scoring on a wild pitch to extend the lead to 2-0. With one out and both Jenkins twins in scoring position, Alex Garcia grounded out for an RBI to bump the margin to three.
Garcia had the third of three Troubie hits in the win over CCHS. Raiders' pitcher Randi Roelling was effective in her own right, striking out 15 batters in seven innings complete.
Friday's game against Enochs also provided opportunities for several Troubie junior varsity players, who had their Thursday home game canceled due to expected weather. Taylor Trafican (second base), Sorina Pometta (left field) and Natalie Vigil (third base) each started the contest.
Both St. Francis varsity and JV teams return home to host Davis for continued Delta League action on Tuesday. Game times are 4 p.m.
