Prep softball: Folsom battles but falls short in duel with Lincoln of Stockton

All the bounces just seemed to go in favor of the team from Stockton.

Second-seeded Folsom battled with third-seeded Lincoln on Tuesday with a chance to play for a Sac-Joaquin Section softball championship at stake. Bulldog ace Emma Falen dueled with her Trojan counterpart Peja Goold through six innings until seventh-inning small ball gave Lincoln a 2-0 win at Folsom High School.

No home team wants its season to end with its opponent celebrating on its home field. Unfortunately for the Bulldogs, looking to reach their first section championship game ever, that was the reality Tuesday.

The postgame message from Folsom head coach Tom Pfeiler: “Hold your heads up.” At 20-6-1, this was Folsom’s first 20-win season since 2005. The Bulldogs beat Chavez 19-0 in the first round and then Pleasant Grove 4-0 in the quarterfinals.

“To get this far and do what you did,” Pfeiler told his team, “this is one of the farthest that a Folsom team has ever gone. … There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

Falen allowed just two hits entering the scoreless seventh. Lincoln’s Jordan Hayes and Daniella Hunter each singled to lead off the frame and wound up on second and third with one out. A squeeze bunt by Tara Fornaciari led to Lincoln’s first run.

Two batters later, with the bases loaded, Justice Rebuldela singled to right to drive in another run, but Folsom doubled off two Trojans on a baserunning mishap to keep the score at 2-0 entering the bottom of the seventh.

Shay Sacay and Sienna Price each had two-out singles in the bottom of the seventh before Goold induced a pop fly to end the game and the Bulldogs’ season.

Folsom put together good at-bats earlier in the game, but the Lincoln defense was on point. Freshman center fielder Olivia Holtz made two rally-saving plays for Lincoln in the fourth and fifth innings.

In the fourth, with runners on first and second, Folsom’s Marina Medina lined one into the right-center gap, but Holtz chased it down and doubled off the runner at second for an inning-ending double play. In the fifth, Holtz made a diving catch on a shallow fly ball from Sacay.

“(If) one of those hits the ground … it’s gonna be a different ballgame,” Pfeiler said. “(Holtz) made some great plays out there, and their pitcher did well for them. Emma did an excellent job. They just got her.”

Goold (Tennessee-Chattanooga) matched Falen (UC Riverside) with five hits allowed and nine strikeouts. Falen, who helped Folsom earn its share of the Sierra Foothill League championship, set a single-season school record with 221 strikeouts.

“Sometimes we fall short, and this is one of those times that we fall short,” Pfeiler said. “Other than that, we have a great team. I’d put this team up against anybody.”

Lincoln (24-4-1) moves into the section’s Division I championship game against top-seeded Sheldon, which defeated Rocklin 7-2 on Tuesday. Dakota Kennedy hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season for the Huskies, who seek a D-I record ninth section crown. Lincoln, which owns six section banners, is in its first championship game since 1998.

This story was originally published May 25, 2022 at 6:20 AM.