Morgan Kacalek homered and teammates Kyra Mason, Ava Rojas and Emma French each scored three times as Benicia High’s softball team pounded visiting Newark Memorial, 17-1, in Tuesday’s opening round of the North Coast Section Division 2 Playoffs.

MORGAN KACALEK rips a two-run homer during Benicia’s 17-1 victory over Newark Memorial in the NCS softball playoffs.

The Lady Panthers (22-1), seeded No. 3 in the D-2 bracket, scored four times in the first inning and eight more times in the third en route to the easy five-inning victory over No. 14-seed Newark Memorial (13-8).
“I think the score shows we deserved to be ranked higher,” said Kacalek, who blasted a two-run homer in the third inning – her second homer of the season.
The only hit for Newark Memorial was a solo homer by Mahlyah Sao leading off the top of the second inning. Benicia starting pitcher Sinead Maas went four innings and struck out eight to pick up the win.
The Lady Panthers had 12 hits, including a three-run triple by Mason. Vanessa Smith and Suae Beatty each had two hits, and Ava Pannell had two RBIs.
“We’ve been working on the different types of pitching we would face and are preparing for everything,” said French, who had four RBIs.
The Lady Panthers host No. 6 seed American Canyon (17-6) in today’s NCS quarterfinals at 5 p.m. The Lady Wolves beat Northgate, 5-2, in their opening round.
Benicia was eliminated by Alameda in last year’s NCS quarterfinals.

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