The Southwestern League lead was at stake, both teams were unbeaten in the SWL and there were cross-valley bragging rights to consider.
Other than that, Tuesday’s game between Central and Fruita was just your average midseason softball game.
“This one was more intense,” Central High School pitcher Ashley Goletz said.
The rest of the SWL teams are now looking up at the Warriors in the standings as Central defeated Fruita Monument 4-1 at Kronkright Complex.
Goletz had a big role in the victory. She pitched a complete game for Central (10-2, 3-0 SWL), giving up only two hits and striking out eight.
“She throws even harder in these (rivalry) games,” Central coach Sabrina Juarez said of her senior pitcher.
“My rise (ball), my drop, even my screwball — everything was working,” Goletz said.
It’s not like the Wildcats (6-5, 2-1) didn’t make the Warriors work for the victory, however.
The game was scoreless through the first three innings as Fruita Monument starter Krystina Pacheco was as effective as Goletz on the mound.
Central manufactured a couple of runs in the top of the fourth, taking advantage of a two-base error, Danielle Romine’s RBI single up the middle and Tayler Else’s RBI single.
Juarez liked what she saw in the sixth, when the Warriors added a couple of more runs using small ball.
Rachel Romine led off with a bunt single down the first-base line.
“Rachel surprised me with that,” Juarez said. “She had the green light to get on any way she could.”
“The corner (infielders) were playing back all game. I hadn’t been hitting real well so I thought I’d try it,” Romine said.
Her sister Danielle surprised Juarez even more by following that with a carbon-copy bunt in the same place. Rachel didn’t break stride rounding second and took third with the bag uncovered on the bunt.
“We always look for third because 90 percent of the time nobody’s usually there,” Rachel said.
Rachel Romine scored on a throwing error and Danielle scored on fielder’s choice.
Rachel Romine said the Warriors won’t get complacent after taking sole possession of the league lead.
“We’re not taking advantage of it,” she said. “We’re still going to work hard.”
GRAND JUNCTION 15, MONTROSE 5
The Tigers watched an eight-run lead shrink to 8-5 before scoring seven runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to win by the 10-run rule.
Grand Junction opened up a close game with six runs in the bottom of the fourth, three coming on Sami Cannetti’s home run.
Grand Junction (8-3, 1-2) had six extra-base hits, including a double and triple by Paula Lage.
Elena Arrieta pitched into the sixth inning in earning the victory, getting relief help from Alex Duncan.
