Landeros comes through late for Merced softball against Golden Valley

Catching Merced High School softball ace Madilyn Nickles can be tough. Sophomore Alazaya Landeros has the bruises to prove it.

Landeros was back behind the plate against Golden Valley on Monday afternoon despite playing with an injured thumb and wrist.

“There were a couple times I could see her grimace when she caught the ball,” Nickles said. “I felt I had to call a timeout and talk to her to let her catch a breath, because it’s not just me out there. We’re a team.”

Landeros’ response is always the same: “I’m fine.”

Her toughness paid off as Landeros doubled in a run to break a scoreless tie in the top of the seventh inning to help the Bears (15-4, 10-0 Central California Conference) defeat the Cougars 3-0 at Joe Herb Park.

“I was really happy,” Landeros said. “It pumped me up. My first at-bat I struck out because I was chasing pitches. I really wanted to come through with a runner on third. We needed to score that run.”

Rheanne Lewis added an RBI double and came around to score on a throwing error to extend the Bears’ lead to 3-0.

Nickles took over from there, retiring Golden Valley (7-13, 4-6) in order in the seventh with two strikeouts. Nickles retired the final 16 batters.

After throwing a perfect game in a 1-0 win over the Cougars earlier this season, Nickles settled for a one-hit shutout Monday with 15 strikeouts.

Golden Valley’s only hit was a second-inning double by Madison Church. Abbee Croninger also reached base on a strikeout in the dirt in the second inning.

“It was a really intense game,” Nickles said. “We really wanted to come out here and kick their butts. They are our rival. Merced vs. Golden Valley is always a big game. I had fun. I like being in close games and watching my team work for a win.”

Christiane Grijalva was a tough-luck loser for the second time against Merced. She gave up just three hits as she pitched into the seventh inning and struck out seven. She gave up the only run in the 1-0 loss to Merced.

“ ‘Monkey’ was great,” Golden Valley coach Ross Cruickshanks said. “To take them all the way into the seventh inning ... Yeah, they squared up a couple balls late. We were going up against one of the best players in the area.”

Grijalva was helped by her defense in the sixth inning when Nickles led off with a blast over the left fielder. Nickles stumbled around second base but still tried to score, but shortstop Marissa Bertuccio received the relay and fired a bullet home to throw out Nickles.

“I was running and I hit the bag, but it felt like the bag gave in,” Nickles said. “I stumbled. (Merced coach Bart McAfee) told me he should have stopped me at third. I guess Marissa Bertuccio made a laser throw to home.”

After working with former Merced catcher Megan Kravec her first three years, Nickles has developed good chemistry with Landeros this season.

“Alazaya has really stepped it up,” Nickles said. “She does a great job encouraging me every game.”

Catching the Merced ace is difficult. Not only does she throw hard, but all her pitches have movement.

“It took a while getting used to catching her,” Landeros said. “At first I struggled. I just kept practicing. Her toughest pitch is her drop ball. It’s just a great pitch. You don’t think it’s going to drop, and then it does right in front of you.

“I like catching her. I’ve gotten used to my thumb bothering me and my wrist bothering me. I just have to tough it out.”

Atwater 10, Buhach Colony 1 at Atwater – Cheyenne Mahy did a little of everything for the Falcons (11-6, 7-3 CCC). Mahy pitched a complete game and collected three hits and drove in two runs. Brittany Massa had two hits and three RBIs.

This story was originally published April 25, 2016 at 8:17 PM with the headline "Landeros comes through late for Merced softball against Golden Valley."