If the MacDonald Condors softball team could erase the first half and change of the first inning on Tuesday, March 10, it would. MacDonald was fortunate to escape the top of the first while conceding just one run. The visiting Lynbrook Vikings earned four base runners on two singles and two hit bats[wo]men, but a brilliant relay from left fielder Melody Reynoso to shortstop Ileyah Sanchez to catcher Kyleena Stone caught a Vikings runner napping and not sliding into home, where she likely would have been safe. The runner tried to score standing up and Stone’s swipe tag caught her knee just before her left foot landed on the plate for what would have been the second run of the inning. Instead, the Condors headed into the dugout with some momentum into their first at bats of the afternoon. 

The rocky start would continue with an injury scare in the bottom of the first. After Sanchez led off with a walk, she stole second and, upon diving headfirst into the bag, she collided with the right knee of the middle infielder covering the bag. Sanchez would have to come out of the game due to concussion protocol. She would not return. 

Fortunately for the Condors, her teammates more than picked up the slack. Two hitter Natalie Rivera would also draw a walk, which preceded a monster RBI triple from Stone that was smoked into the right-center field gap. Just like that, the Condors were in front 2-1, a lead the team would never surrender. 

Kyra Reid would add an RBI knock later in the inning to extend the lead to 3-1. That’s where the score would hold until the Condors broke things wide open in the bottom of the second on the strength of an inside-the-park, three-run home run from Rivera on a line drive to right center. Aariyah Quinonez added an RBI single later in the second as the Condors eventually took a 14-1 lead in the inning after Rivera and Stone each added another pair of RBIs in their second-inning plate appearances. 

MacDonald would go on and eventually win the game against the Vikings via a 5-inning, 10-run rule, 20-5. 

“I’ve kind of been in a slump lately, so I was just thinking about looking for my pitch early in the spots that I have been recently liking to hit in batting practice,” acknowledged Stone after the win. “They gave me those pitches, so I was able to go with it.” 

Stone and Rivera went with the outside pitches to the opposite field time and time again, including Rivera’s inside-the-park home run, which was launched the other way. Rivera described her approach during the sequence leading up to the home run. 

“I realized I had to protect the plate because I had two strikes,” noted Rivera. “I saw the pitch that I always want; I swung and made contact. I was able to make an inside-the-park home run. I feel amazing about it.” 

The Condors as a team should also feel amazing for the performance it received from its No. 2 starting pitcher, Hazel Flores, who attacked the zone and allowed the defense behind her to make the kind of plays like they did on the first inning relay. 

MacDonald will now look to build on their 3-1 start to the season. 

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