Under-12 softball team drops 7-6 decision in tournament championship game
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SAN ANSELMO >> Dropping a 7-6 heartbreaker to the Santa Rosa Red Barons in the gold bracket championship game, the Lake County Diamonds under-12 traveling softball team just missed taking first place Sunday at the Marin Summer Slam Tournament at Red Hill Community Park in San Anselmo.
Losing pitcher Araya Dotson went 2-for-3 in the one-run loss while Ava Cockrill went 2-for-3 with a triple. Avery English, Kaelani Becrril, Estella Del Sarto and Emmie Hernandez added hits in the tournament finals.
Lake County advanced to the finals with a 6-4 win over the Marin Tremors in the semifinals on Sunday, avenging a Saturday loss to the same team. Winning pitcher Hernandez went 2-for-4 with an inside-the-park home run while Dotson went 2-for-3. English, Cockrill, Del Sarto and Cataleya Valencia each had a hit.
The Diamonds opened tournament play Saturday by winning two out of three. In their opener, they beat the Oakland Vipers 9-4 behind the pitching of Hernandez and a home run by Dotson, who went 3-for-3 in the win. Brooklyn Brown and Adelynn Orozco added two hits apiece while Del Sarto, Hernandez, Cockrill and Gracie Castillo each had one hit. Valencia drew three walks.
Lake County lost its next game 10-3 to the Marin Tremors. Hernandez was the losing pitcher but went 2-for-3 at the plate as did Becerril. Valencia, Cockrill and Faith Myers contributed hits. Del Sarto and Madison Richter walked two times apiece.
The Diamonds finished their Saturday schedule with a 19-1 win over the Rohnert Park Rebels to secure a spot in the Sunday gold bracket playoffs. Hernandez earned the pitching win while Cockrill went 1-for-1 with two walks. Dotson and Hernandez added doubles while Becerril also had a hit. Lake County batters collected 19 walks in all during the blowout victory.
Team members received medals for their second-place finish.
