But Nikki Franchi made it look easy when she tossed a perfect game for the Saratoga softball team when the Falcons defeated Wilcox 3-0 on March 25.

Franchi connected with her catcher, Suzanne Lessack, for 18 strikeouts as she faced only 21 hitters.

Franchi opened the game by striking out the first eight batters she faced before the No. 9 hitter for Wilcox smacked a line drive to right, where Nicole Sabes was there to make the catch. Franchi then sat down three more before the cleanup hitter for Wilcox hit a pop fly to short where Lisa Brenner was waiting to make an easy catch.

After two more hitters sat down on strikes, thanks to Franchi's pitching, the No. 7 hitter for the Chargers laid down a bunt, but it went right back to Franchi who picked it up and fired to Chelsey Seagraves at first for the out. Franchi fanned the last five in order, only getting in trouble one time when she took the second out of the seventh inning to a full count before fanning her.

Franchi is coming off a record-setting year for Saratoga when she struck out 247 batters in a single season, the most in school history.

"We rely on our short game and timely hits," said Saratoga head coach Al Pezino. "With a pitcher like Nikki, it really comes down to our mental game, and we have a mature team with a lot of confidence this year."

Although Franchi shut down everyone she faced in order, a game cannot be won without scoring some runs. The biggest offensive inning for the Falcons came in the bottom of the sixth when Katie Reed led off with a line drive base hit into left. Reed used her speed and smarts to not only steal second, but third as well. With one out and a runner on third, Franchi helped herself out with a fielder's choice ground ball that allowed Reed to score. Victoria Azzi took over for Franchi on the base paths as a pinch runner and she moved to second on a ground out by Brenner. With two outs, Cassie Bac drew a walk and Jackie Gragnola singled home in Azzi, but Bac was tossed out at third on the play.

The other run for the Falcons came in the bottom of the third. Lisa Ruddy led off the inning by drawing a walk. With one out Ruddy reached second by beating a force attempt at second on a bunt by Reed. Priseilla Chan hit a grounder to short, but beat out the back end of the double play to reach on a fielder's choice. With runners at the corners and Franchi at the plate, Wilcox' pitcher threw a ball in the dirt that got away from the catcher and allowed Ruddy to score and Chan to reach third. Franchi grounded out to second to end the inning.

Reed was the big hitter of the day for the Falcons, going 2 for 3.

Franchi tossed another gem, but the Falcons lost 2-1 to Valley Christian in the Circle of Champion Tournament at Twin Creeks over the weekend. The Falcons scored a run in the first to take the lead, but Valley tied it in the third, then scored the go-ahead run in the fourth.

Franchi flipped a 3-hitter, striking out 10, and led a 5-hit Saratoga attack with a double and two singles.

The Falcons will hit the road to visit Cupertino on March 30, 3:30 p.m., for a Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division game.