Kincaid’s big hit helps Clovis win softball Easter Classic

The Clovis (16-1) softball team won the Clovis Easter Classic during spring break with a come from behind 7-5 win over Buchanan (11-5) led by Ashley Kincaid’s three-run triple. (Photo by Paul Meadors)

By Paul Meadors, Sports Editor
paulmeadors@gmail.com
@paulmeadors

Chip away.

That’s what Clovis High knew it had to do down 5-1 against rival Buchanan in the championship game of the Clovis Easter Classic on April 11.

The Cougars – the state’s No. 10 ranked team – did just that, then got the big hit it needed from senior Ashley Kincaid in their 7-5 come-from-behind win against the Bears to move to 16-1 on the season.

Kincaid blasted a three-run triple in the top of the sixth inning after Clovis scored two in the fifth on a Mackenzie Byrd ground out and a Jordyn Martinez hot-shot to shortstop that was played for an error to close the lead to 5-3.

“That’s what you have to do in those situations, it’s either you lay down or you take it one base at a time,” said Clovis head coach Mike Noel. “Then Ashley came up with the big hit.”

Star pitcher Danielle Lung then pitched the final two innings in relief, striking out five.

“I think winning championships is something you need to learn and this was a good step for us,” said Noel. “We faced a team that is really good and playing hot. We are really happy with the win and we wanted to play well and we did it for the most part. I was proud of the way the girls battled back and held on.”

Clovis junior standout pitcher Danielle Lung fires a pitch in the seventh inning in the championship win against Buchanan. Lung, who earlier in the day pitched a 3-0 shutout against Hanford West, closed the door by throwing the final two innings, striking out five. (Photo by Paul Meadors)

The Cougars rallied off junior ace Molly Millar, who came in to relieve Katie January in the top of the fifth inning. Millar beat Clovis and Lung 2-0 in last year’s Division I Central Section championship game.

But it was the sixth inning that was the undoing for Millar and the Bears (11-5). After a walk, a hit by pitch and an error loaded the bases in the sixth, Kincaid blasted her triple over the right fielder’s head.

“Coach does a great job of preparing us,” said Kincaid who has faced Millar on multiple occasions since the 7th grade. “During practices he sets up the machine on the inside and outside or on the rise. What I got was an outside pitch and just went with it.

“I was just running until I saw coach holding me up. I wasn’t looking behind me, I was just looking to go.”

Noel turned to freshman Allie Puente to start the championship game after Lung pitched the Cougars to a 3-0 win over Hanford West in the semifinal in the morning, a game in which the Fresno State commit recorded 10 strikeouts and gave up only three hits, moving to 15-1 on the season.

“I was pretty sure she was nervous but she did what she had to do,” said Noel of Puente. “She kept us in it and gave us a chance.”

Buchanan’s offense was highlighted by a two-run triple from Katie Jackson in the fourth.

Paul Meadors is a man of many talents. He is a elementary school teacher, Junior High athletic director, and basketball coach in Traver, CA, in addition to serving as the Sports Editor for the Clovis Roundup. He is also the author of the humorous book “Letters to eBay,” and he has recorded a piano album of his own compositions titled “Surviving the Storm.” He lives in Fresno with wife Lori and daughters Georgie, Alex and Ruthie.