Fans quickly filled Ventura’s bleachers Fri. Mar. 17, as the Cougars and Bulldogs took the field in the first rivalry face-off of the season. 

Ventura quickly pulled ahead of Buena with a 3-1 lead in the first inning. After a scoreless third inning with Ventura still in the lead 4-3, Buena loaded the bases with help from a double hit by Jennie Jacinto and a bunt by Janelle Jiminez, then added one more run to their score. 

“It was a good battle at the plate for both teams,” senior Dakota Moore said. “We both hit really well.”

In the bottom of the fourth inning, the Cougars strengthened their lead by five more runs, aided by multiple hits to left field. After these runs, a pitching change was made and Divina Miranda was now in the circle for the Bulldogs. The inning ends with a pop fly to center field caught by Moore, the score 9-4 with a Ventura lead.

“It was very nerve-racking, but I know I had a team behind me that I could rely on, “ junior Miranda said regarding her entrance as relief pitcher. 

Senior Destanee Perez brought energy back to Buena players and fans with a solo homerun in the top of the fifth inning, the only Buena run scored that inning. By the end of the sixth inning, the Bulldogs seemed to gain back their momentum, trailing the cougars 11-6.

“I’ve never seen so much energy from the team,” Miranda said. “I love feeling the energy of the team.”

The top of the seventh inning was electric, with Buena needing to close a five-run gap in the score in order to continue the game. With two runners on, senior Alyssa Jacinto was called up to the plate to pinch hit, and delivered a sacrifice pop fly to right field, allowing Perez to take two bases and score. A double by junior Aubrey Trigo allowed for another run later in the inning, but ultimately the Bulldogs could not catch up and the game ended with a 11-8 cougar victory.

“It was a big upset but I think we know what we need to work on, and we’ve been working on it so we can get them next time,” Moore said.