Liberty-Madera strikes quickly to win D-V softball title

MADERA -- Nothing was going to stop the Liberty-Madera Ranchos High softball team from a fourth consecutive Central Section Division V title.

After thunder cracked ominously in the distance during the national anthem, the Hawks' bats did some thundering of their own in a six-run first inning en route to a 10-0 win Friday over Selma (19-7).

Freshman Renee Ortega delivered the big blow with a bases-clearing double to right-center that put second-seeded Liberty (23-6-1) up 3-0 after four batters.

That relaxed the team and set the tone for the game.

"We've got some girls that had played in games like these, but we've got some that never played in one before so they were flat nervous," Liberty co-head coach Bob Barber said.

Ortega said patience played a role.

"I was waiting to see the right pitch to hit hard on the ground or a hard line drive," she said, "and I got it."

Randi Wallace and Caity McShane added run-scoring singles and the rout was on.

Junior ace Hannah Shevenell threw a two-hitter with 11 strikeouts.

Shevenell struck out the side in the first and fifth innings, and she did not give up a hit until Emery Green hit a bloop single down the left-field line in the fourth.

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Liberty-Madera strikes quickly to win D-V softball title