Posted: Apr 11, 2024
SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Junior left fielder Kylee Garrett hit 2-for-4 with a double and her first varsity grand slam, designated player Kasey McAtee posted a career-best three RBIs, while the Troubadours took advantage of six total Timberwolf errors as St. Francis wrapped up a 14-8 win over Woodcreek in non-league prep softball action at Schuster Field Thursday afternoon.
The Troubadours pick up their third straight win in improving to 11-3 overall.
Garrett was one of three players with multi-hit games. Senior third baseman Alex Garcia finished 2-for-3, with both hits coming in her team's massive second inning. Sophomore Reese Lewis hit 2 of 2 with a double and an RBI in support of her own pitching start. Lewis, Kinsley Imm and Kiley Shea combined for the overall win in the circle.
The Troubies pushed across seven in the second and five in the sixth after surrendering an initial 2-0 lead. Garcia opened the second with a pop fly that fell just inside the right-field line for a leadoff single. Woodcreek pitcher Chloe Schmidt Wolf coaxed ground outs from the next two SF batters, then hit Taylor Trafican in the back of the head, unknowingly starting a long two-out rally in the process. McAtee later dropped a well-placed pop-up that fell behind shortstop Chloe Preuss, scoring Trafican and courtesy runner Isabella Barge for the 3-2 go-ahead hit.
St. Francis caught yet another break two batters later. With Claire Krotine on first with a single and McAtee on second, senior shortstop Francesca Guerrera bounced to short. Rather than going for the force at second, Preuss opted to retire McAtee at third. That throw came in slightly high, loading the bases for Garrett. The junior outfielder then launched a 3-1 pitch to left for her first homer of the season, her second career knock, and her first grand slam.
Lewis' double helped two more Troubie runs in the third. She sent a line drive to left to send Trafican to third, putting two runners in scoring position. Trafican came in on a hard McAtee grounder to the right side, then Barge – again courtesy running for Lewis – scored on Krotine's infield single.
The Timberwolves cut into the lead with two runs in the fourth and four in the sixth, the latter of which came largely on a monstrous home run off the bat of Kaylee Kolhoff. Maryn MacNeil, who relieved Schmidt Wolf in the circle earlier in the game, followed with solo blast to center. Shea got out of the inning by fanning Camryn Kelley, sending SF to the bottom half with just a 9-8 lead.
Guerrera and Alex McFarland each had RBI singles, Garrett yanked a hard line drive down the left-field line for a double, and three T-Wolf errors resulted in a five-run sixth, padding the Troubie lead back to six. Shea retired Woodcreek in order in the seventh to close out the win.
Garrett's only other varsity home run came against Sheldon to close the 2023 regular season last May 10.
The Troubadours pick up their third straight win in improving to 11-3 overall.
Garrett was one of three players with multi-hit games. Senior third baseman Alex Garcia finished 2-for-3, with both hits coming in her team's massive second inning. Sophomore Reese Lewis hit 2 of 2 with a double and an RBI in support of her own pitching start. Lewis, Kinsley Imm and Kiley Shea combined for the overall win in the circle.
The Troubies pushed across seven in the second and five in the sixth after surrendering an initial 2-0 lead. Garcia opened the second with a pop fly that fell just inside the right-field line for a leadoff single. Woodcreek pitcher Chloe Schmidt Wolf coaxed ground outs from the next two SF batters, then hit Taylor Trafican in the back of the head, unknowingly starting a long two-out rally in the process. McAtee later dropped a well-placed pop-up that fell behind shortstop Chloe Preuss, scoring Trafican and courtesy runner Isabella Barge for the 3-2 go-ahead hit.
St. Francis caught yet another break two batters later. With Claire Krotine on first with a single and McAtee on second, senior shortstop Francesca Guerrera bounced to short. Rather than going for the force at second, Preuss opted to retire McAtee at third. That throw came in slightly high, loading the bases for Garrett. The junior outfielder then launched a 3-1 pitch to left for her first homer of the season, her second career knock, and her first grand slam.
Lewis' double helped two more Troubie runs in the third. She sent a line drive to left to send Trafican to third, putting two runners in scoring position. Trafican came in on a hard McAtee grounder to the right side, then Barge – again courtesy running for Lewis – scored on Krotine's infield single.
The Timberwolves cut into the lead with two runs in the fourth and four in the sixth, the latter of which came largely on a monstrous home run off the bat of Kaylee Kolhoff. Maryn MacNeil, who relieved Schmidt Wolf in the circle earlier in the game, followed with solo blast to center. Shea got out of the inning by fanning Camryn Kelley, sending SF to the bottom half with just a 9-8 lead.
Guerrera and Alex McFarland each had RBI singles, Garrett yanked a hard line drive down the left-field line for a double, and three T-Wolf errors resulted in a five-run sixth, padding the Troubie lead back to six. Shea retired Woodcreek in order in the seventh to close out the win.
Garrett's only other varsity home run came against Sheldon to close the 2023 regular season last May 10.
St. Francis and Woodcreek also squared off in a scrimmage on the junior varsity diamond. Umpires were not available across the Sacramento area on Wednesday, forcing JV teams to play unofficially. Marissa Jensen hit 3-for-3 while Ariella Alcantar, Jocelyn Villaflor and Haydyn Haecker each went 2-for-3 in the scrimmage.
The Troubie varsity squad returns to league action on Friday for a road game at Franklin, then comes home to host Pioneer on Saturday for a 10 a.m. matinee. The SF jayvee slate remains to be determined, pending player availability, but each of the upcoming meetings with the Wildcats and Patriots have already been canceled.
