Linerud's homer lifts Panthers to 4-2 victory over Longhorns

Track, swim teams win

By Dick Sparrer

Whenever a team needs a big hit, it's usually the big hitters who deliver.

Well, the Presentation girls softball team was certainly in need of a big hit last Thursday. And it was returning all-leaguer Shannon Linerud who delivered.

The Panthers were trailing Leigh 2-0 heading into the last of the sixth. They had already dropped a 7-4 decision to Santa Teresa earlier in the week and were in danger of slipping to 1-3 in the tough Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League.

Then in stepped Linerud.

The senior slugger ripped a three-run homer to key a four-run rally in the sixth, leading the Panthers to a 4-2 win over the Longhorns.

Freshman hurler Mikaela Gillette was certainly happy to see Linerud clear the bases with her three-run blast. Gillette had blanked Leigh over the first five innings, but was touched for two runs in the top of the sixth to fall behind 2-0.

Linerud erased that deficit and put the Panthers on top to stay with her clutch homer.

The Panthers, 2-2 in league and 5-8 for the year, had lost 7-4 to Santa Teresa just two days earlier. Linerud and Melissa Dudley each singled and tripled for Presentation, and Priscilla Soria had two hits. Nicole Rousseve ripped a double for the Panthers.

Presentation opened the week with an 11-0 non-league win over Menlo- Atherton. Rousseve tossed a no-hitter in the game that Presentation won in five innings on the 10-run rule. The senior struck out six and walked just three.

Rousseve helped her cause at the plate with three hits, and Ashley Callaway had two hits to knock in two runs. Dudley doubled for the Panthers and Linerud and Angela Guajardo each knocked in two runs.

Swimmers Win

Colleen Smith, Jenny Wickersham and Carlene Takaki won two events each to lead the Presentation girls swimming team to a 93-47 Mt. Hamilton Division win over Santa Teresa. The win helped the Panthers improve to 3-0 in league competition.

Smith took the 200-yard freestyle in 2:00.34 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:11.80, Wickersham won the 200 individual medley in 2:16.11 and the 100 free in 55.66 and Takaki was tops in the 100 butterfly in 1:02.68 and the 100 backstroke in 1:05.84.

Smith, Takaki and Wickersham teamed with Lindsay Fraka for a win in the 200 medley relay in 1:56.86, and the Panthers also took the 200 free relay in 1:45.75.

Grelli, Vallejo Star

Melissa Grelli dominated the distance events and Amanda Vallejo won a pair of events as the Presentation girls track team ran to an 86-50 Mt. Hamilton Division win over Leland.

Grelli took the mile in 5:26.51 and won the 2-mile in 12:16 to lead the Panthers in the distance races. Vallejo sprinted to a win in the 100 meter dash in 13.47 and soared to a first in the long jump at 15-8.

Vallejo also helped the Panthers to wins in the 4x100 and 4x400 relays.

Mandy Williams was a winner in the 800 meters in 2:23.08.

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