Merced High softball wins thriller over Atwater in key CCC showdown
The Merced High School softball team took another step closer to a Central California Conference championship on Thursday, defeating second-place Atwater in thrilling fashion, 9-8.
The Bears improved to 8-0 in the CCC and lead Atwater (6-2) by two games, with two still to play.
After Merced built an 8-4 lead over four innings, visiting Atwater stunned the Bears with a four-run fifth inning to tie the game.
Merced responded, though, and scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Junior Mariah Higareda and sophomore Abigail Rosa each drove in two runs for the Bears, who overcame a poor defensive effort having committed five errors. Rosa also stole two bases. Junior Antonia Lejarde homered for Merced.
Senior Genesis Velasquez had two RBIs for Atwater.
Merced (17-3 overall) finishes the season next week at third-place Buhach Colony (5-3) on Tuesday and at home against El Capitan (2-6) on Thursday.
Merced has given Atwater its only two CCC losses; the Bears beat the Falcons 2-1 on April 14.
Here’s a look at the CCC softball standings heading into the final weeks of the season:
- Merced 8-0
- Atwater 6-2
- Buhach Colony 5-3
- Los Banos 2-5
- El Capitan 2-6
- Golden Valley 0-7
