The Valley Chronicle - Lady Tigers fend off Big Bearsng

San Jacinto High School’s varsity softball handily defeated Big Bear last Thursday, 13-2

[caption id="attachment_2386" align="alignright" width="576"] Photo by Corey Evan
The Lady Tigers take a photo op after sending the Big Bear Bears back to 7,000 feet with a 13-2 defeat.[/caption] ■ Corey Evan / Sports Reporter When you live the high life, coming down can make you feel a little low. That’s what Big Bear’s varsity softball team experienced as they came down from their bear caves at 7,000 feet to do battle with San Jacinto… at 1,500 feet. In the very first inning, the Tigers’ home field advantage showed as they picked up not one, not two, not three, not four or five… but SIX runs! This strong start was thanks to Alexis Ahumada, Alaina Adkins, Shannon Stone, Andrea Hernandez, Sophia Estanislao and Julissa Ledesma. The third inning saw Hernandez, as well as Alaina and sister Alicia Adkins bring in another three runs for the Tigers. Alicia Adkins and Stone brought in a run apiece in the fourth inning. Big Bear registered on the big board twice in the fourth, but the game would only continue for one more uneventful inning before the Tigers declared victory. Coach Katie Muscente acknowledged that the altitude change could have affected their competitors: “I would’ve assumed that altitude always has its…consequences,” despite sunshine reaching them in recent days. The Tigers are currently 7-5 for the season, but as Muscente points out… there’s still more to win: “They picked themselves up. They picked each other up, which is the best part,” said Muscente. “We’re hoping for a good rest of the season.” The Lady Tigers’ next opponents will be a double header April 1 against the Santa Rosa Academy Rangers at 9 a.m. and the Elsinore High Tigers at 11 a.m. at the Tahquitz Tournament.But for today at least, the Tigers were on fire and left ‘da Bears... on ICE.