Royal girls split softball games

ROYAL CITY - The Royal girls defeated River View, 8-7, in the second game Saturday to split a South Central A Conference East softball doubleheader.

The Knights battled hard even in the 15-10 first game loss after being clubbed for six runs in two innings. They won the rest of the contest, 10-9.

"The Lady Knights didn't allow that to dictate the rest of their day," coach Robyn Valdez said. "They turned on the bats in the third inning and stepped up their defense."

"While they were defeated on the score board in the first game, the girls played with more heart and determination than I have seen from them this season," Valdez added.

Seila Jenks went 4-for-5 at the plate, and Flor Araujo went 3-for-4.

After their defeat in the first game, the girls came back with a vengeance. There was an array of spectacular plays on defense.

Sam Eilers was challenged to take on a new role in center field and just may have found her new home. She chased down balls left and right and ended the game with a last-second basket catch right behind second base.

Other defensive highlights were a diving catch by Taylor Freeman, a sliding catch by Araujo and a number of key plays in Left Field by Carmen Rodriguez.

On offense, Eilers went 2-for-4 with a triple to start the 5th inning, and there were RBI by Tahlia Ledezma, Kayla Smith, and Araujo.

Araujo went 3-for-4 with two doubles and a triple in the top of the seventh inning to drive in the winning run.