Noel Pitches Well in Loss

Emily Noel made one mistake in last Thursday’s home game against perennial Western League power Venice. Unfortunately, it proved to be one too many. Palisades’ ace pitched well enough to win, giving up only five hits and striking out 11 in a complete game, yet she took a 4-1 loss because the Dolphins simply could not generate enough offense against the Gondos. The softball program got a shot in the arm when Ray Marsden took over the coaching reigns at the start of the season and since then Palisades has been on the upswing. No game provided better proof of that than last Wednesday’s Western League opener at Hamilton. The Dolphins fell behind 6-0 but rallied for eight runs in the top of the sixth inning and held on to win 8-6. Noel started strong against Venice, striking out two of the first three batters she faced. However, opposing pitcher Danielle Mestas got around on a low inside pitch and drove it over the right fielder’s head for an inside-the-park home run that plated two runs and put Palisades in an early hole. Mestas had four strikeouts in the first two innings and was working on a no-hitter in the third when she was accidentally plunked in the back of the head by her own catcher, who was attempting to throw the ball to second base. Mestas had to leave the game and while her replacement was not nearly as overpowering, she did succeed in getting outs. The Gondos added to their lead in the third when, after three straight singles, a slow roller to first base resulted in two more runs. Noel settled down after that, not allowing a baserunner after that, but the damage was done. Palisades managed to scratch out a run of its own in the fifth when Selma Cortez scored on a single to center. Looking to mount a miracle comeback for the second game in a row, Marsden had Hannah Fagerbakke pinch hit with one out in the bottom of the seventh and she came through with a bloop single to right. Stephanie Vasquez was inserted to pinch run and Demi Barrientos walked on a 3-2 count to put runners on first and second. But Vasquez was tagged out trying to steal third and Alexis Jefferson went down on strikes for the final out. Aarica King got the Dolphins’ first hit with one out in the fourth–smoking a line drive off the third baseman’s glove for a single. She immediately stole second, but was stranded after a strikeout and a groundout.