Lady Panthers shines up diamond tiaras

It was a weekend of maximum fun and maximum enjoyment for the Maxwell High softball team, as they emerged as champions of their tournament held over the weekend.

Chester 9, Maxwell 5

In their first game Friday, the Panthers amassed 14 hits, but it was not enough to prevent a 9-5 loss to the Volcanoes.

Nikole Burg, Alexz Miller, Laura Wells and Tori Burrious each rapped out three singles apiece, with Burrious driving home three runs. Wells and Kendall --Otterson brought home the others.

Maxwell left 10 base runners stranded.

Maxwell 13, Chester 2

Due to a five-team format, Maxwell and Chester played each other twice Friday to determine Saturday seeding. The Panthers seemed to like the idea, as this time they made the most of 17 hits, only leaving four runner on in a decisive win.

Burrious picked up three more hits and drove in three, and Kylie Word doubled - also doing a fine job of situational hitting with three sacrifice flies. Wells laced a triple, and Burg, Miller, Otterson, Jani Bowen and Mack Van Fleet were each good for a pair of hits.

Maxwell 13, Pierce 2

The Maxwell bats continued booming in Saturday's championship, as the Panthers hit their high-water mark with 18.

Bowen legged out a pair of three-baggers, and Otterson accounted for the only other extra-base hit, with a double.

Bowen singled twice as well to finish with four hits, followed by Word, with three. Burg, Miller, Van Fleet and Burrious joined in on the fun with two hits apiece.

Allison Costa struck out 14 in the win.

Maxwell tuned up for their tournament run with a 14-4 rout of Princeton on the road Thursday.

Pierce 13, Champion Christian 4

Angel Clark's grand slam powered the Bears to the win, while aggressive base running by the Bears contributed heavily to the offensive explosion.

Alison Ornbaun went 3-for-4 with a walk, and Yasmin Garcia was also 3-for-4 with a double.

Pierce 19, Williams 9

In what coach Jennifer Barham called their best hitting game so far, Pierce got another home run from Angel Clark, a triple from Ornbaun, and doubles from Clark, Ornbaun, Celeste Lopez and Aloysa Anderson in a rout.

Ornbaun, Clark, Anderson, Trisha Abele, Diana Velazquez, Celeste Lopez and Cynthia Jauregi all pitched in with three-hit efforts.

"I'm very pleased with how we played this weekend," said Barham. "Making it to the championship game is a huge step up for our program. I'm very impressed with how the girls stayed in it for all three games on Saturday.

Ornbaun and Abele were both named to the All-Tournament team.

Williams 11, Champion Christian 10

No statistics were available before press time.

Maxwell (10-3) hosted Live Oak on Tuesday, and hosts a Wednesday twinbill with Hayfork.

Pierce (4-4, 0-1 Sacramento Valley League) hosted Winters Monday.

Williams (2-5) played at Los Molinos Tuesday.