Rancho Cotate’s softball team stepped away from North Bay League play on April 21 to defeat Heritage High of Brentwood 1-0 in the HASA Tournament in Rio Vista.

This contest  featured a pair of one-loss teams with outstanding pitchers.

Rancho Cotate’s Katy Kibbe maintained her dominant ways by throwing a complete-game shutout with eight strikeouts while allowing only three hits and two walks. Heritage’s Lisa Rodrigues fanned 11 Rancho Cotate batters.

Neither team scored in the first five innings as Kibbe and Rodrigues controlled the action with quick innings and few base runners.

Taylor Haug delivered the decisive blow in the bottom of the sixth inning with a single to drive in Stephanie Bielefield with the winning run.

Rancho Cotate 4
Cardinal Newman 2
Rancho Cotate put three runs on the board in the bottom of the first inning, and left the game in the capable hands of Kibbe en route to its sixth NBL victory of the season.

Keilani Fronda and Courtney Zaccagna were the hitting stars for the Cougars, as each had a pair of hits. One of Fronda’s hits was a solo home run, which also was the only extra-base hit for the Cougars, while Zaccagna drove in a pair of runs. Kibbe also aided her own cause with a run-scoring single.

Kibbe struck out 15, walked one and allowed four hits in seven innings in earning the victory. Cardinal Newman scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings.

The Cougars, now sporting a 12-1 record, will next play Elsie Allen at home on May 1.