Marauders unravel late against Redskins

TULARE — Before Thursday’s showdown between Monache and Tulare Union, the Marauders had specifically targeted Union as a potential opponent down the road in the postseason.

“We wanted them bad,” Monache shortstop Chandra Jones said after drawing the Redskins when they upset Garces on Tuesday.

They got ‘em, alright. A double dosage of ‘em.

The 14-12 Marauders went toe-to-toe with the 25-6 Redskins for four innings, but Union used a five-run fifth to end Monache’s season in the second round of Division II playoffs, 10-0.

In two earlier contests this season, the Marauders showed signs of hanging with their neighbors down Highway 137. Union beat Monache on April 16, 4-2, and again on May 12, 4-0.

“We really wanted this game,” Jones said. “Losing three times in a row to the same team is really rough... but maybe they just are the better team.”

And Monache coach Dave Koontz said there’s no shame in losing to the better team.

“We told them, ‘Win or lose, you have nothing to be ashamed about in this game,’” Koontz said. “That was a very good team that beat us. I mean, I hate to lose, but they beat us fair and square.”

Monache managed just one hit in a game-shortened six innings while the Redskins poured on 11 — six off of pitcher Katherine Figueroa and five off Kaitlyne Thompson.

Union pitcher Lauren Crow struck out eight and walked four in her one-hitter.

“We didn’t hit (off Crow) as well as we did the last time we played her,” Koontz said. “She has good stuff. She was hitting her spots, she had her changeup and she was mixing it up.

“But I have to give credit to Kat,” Koontz added. “She battled her for three innings straight up.”

The Marauder defense handled each Union batter and allowed just two hits heading into the fourth. But the Redskins’ Ilissa Facchini doubled down the third-base line and later scored when Rebecca Hurtado drove a single between Jones and Monache third baseman Victoria Jackson.

Monache ended the inning when Crow popped out to Monache center fielder Jessica Simmonds, but that 1-0 lead proved to be the clincher, according to Koontz.

“That was the game,” Koontz said. “We didn’t score any runs and that’s the bottom line.”

It didn’t seem to matter, then, when Koontz replaced Figueroa with freshman Thompson at the bottom of the fifth. 

Thompson allowed two Redskins to get on base and Koontz quickly called for a team meeting on the mound.

“He just told us to relax and calm down, like ‘We got this,’” Jones said of her coach’s advice.

Unfortunately for Monache, Elyse Cordova singled to left side to score both Redskins on base and open up a 3-0 lead.

After Alexandra Barker’s single to center field, three straight Redskins batted in three more runs, causing Koontz to put Figueroa back on the mound with one out still remaining.

“Kat was getting tired a little bit, so I brought in (Thomas) just like we usually do,” Koontz said. “Kate probably didn’t have her best stuff, but that’s my responsibility to make those calls. When it works, I look like a genius. When it doesn’t, I look like a moron.”

Though Thompson allowed five quick runs during that stretch, Koontz knows an experience like that will only serve as growing pains during her career at Monache.

“Kate is a competitor and she was tough on herself today,” Koontz said. “But she’s just a freshman and that’s a good thing because we get her for three more years.”

By then, however, the Union bats were on fire and Figueroa allowed four more runs in the sixth inning, including a three-run triple off Cordova’s bat.

Monache’s lone hit — a Jackson single up the middle in the fourth — was for naught after Simmonds popped out to center, Tori Ruffa struck out and Jones grounded out.

Koontz was so impressed by the Redskins he predicted an intra-city Div. II finals between Union and Tulare Western.

“Those are two of the best teams in the Valley,” Koontz said. “Call me T.O., but I’m making that bold prediction right now.”

Jones, however, believes the Marauders may be in the thick of those predictions in the coming seasons.

“We weren’t expected to go this far this year,” Jones said. “They weren’t expecting us to come (to Tulare) but we played our hearts out. We only have three seniors, so most of us will be back next year.”