he Diamonds Juniors defeat the Coral Gables Gators in a score that sounds more like football than softball: 25-17.
The Diamonds bonded and sang the team song – “Shine Bright Like a Diamond” by Rihannañ during the bus ride to Coral Gables Saturday morning, their second away game. With several of the girls out for this game, the Diamonds were aware they would have to play great defense as a nine-girl team instead of the usual 13.
As the visiting team The Diamonds were up to bat first. Maria Cortes started the inning with a hard ground ball to short and quick running to make her safe at first base. Another hard hit and run by catcher Savannah Reed advanced Cortes to second base. As she came off first, she pulled a muscle, but continued to second base without complaining.
A pinch runner went in for Cortes and, even though she was not on the field, Cortes definitely was not out of the game as she cheered for her Diamond teammates.
“This is just one of the many lessons we are trying to instill with the girls,” says Head Coach Johanna Aguiar. “This is what its all about, not just winning or losing but teaching them about sportsmanship and about being a team, to work hard and not give up and in this game they did just that.”
Now with eight girls and two outfielders extra pressure was placed on Andrea Fonte and Skye Hervas-Jones to do the work of four at left and right field.
Some great hitting by the Gators brought them four runs despite some great defensive stops by Camille Devaney at short stop and stretches by game MVP Daniela Rabassa.
At the end of the inning, it was Diamonds 3, Gators 4.
The top of the second started with the Diamonds at bat. Fonte hits a hard ground ball and beats the ball to first base. A strong hit by Reed and Rabassa sets Hervas-Jones up for a hard grounder up the middle not only making her safe at first but giving her first two RBI’s as well. Then Devaney and pitcher Bess Bryan connected with some strong swings and strong hits to keep them in the game.
The Gators answered right back with three runs. Second baseman Beatriz Diez stopped some strong hits and connected with first baseman Rabassa, making a great dig at first for the third out.
Pitching for the first time for the Diamonds, Bryan exceeded all expectations and made amazing plays to first for some key outs as well. It was clear the parents and fans were going to have a fun and competitive ball game.
The third inning was not much different. There were great swings and hits by both teams, but the inning closed with the Gators leading 11-10.
Third baseman Sienna Aguiar threw the ball to catcher Reed and she tagged the runner out, keeping the Gators from scoring any more points.
At the top of the fourth with time ticking away, the Diamonds were down by one with two outs. Diez started a two-out rally with a pop up between short and third and beats the play at first. With the tying run on first, Aguiar hit a hard line drive right down the third base line, rolling into the far left field, giving her a great hit and another home run for the Diamonds.
Rabassa connected with a hard hit toward the shortstop and was safe at first. Hervas-Jones once more connected and received another RBI as Daniela came home.
The inning ended with the Diamonds on top 13-11.
The Diamonds were unable to make any runs in the fifth inning, setting up two more runs by the Gators at the bottom of the inning.
With only 10 minutes left, the Diamonds came together like never before. Diez made it to base all three times at bat with singles. Aguiar had a double, a single and a triple; Reed, Rabassa, Hervas-Jones, Camille, Bryan and Fonte each had two singles.
On defense the Diamonds held the Gators to only three runs by staying sharp, keeping calm and possibly some cartwheels in the outfield to keep Fonte warmed up.
The team celebrated at the end by singing and surprising Coach Tony with a birthday song and cake.