THE BENICIA OUTLAWS 8-under softball team won its second straight NorCal Regional Tournament championship. The 8-under Outlaws are (back row from left) coaches Jerome White, Steve Walling and Ed Rojas; (middle row) Jasmyn White, Alana Robinson, Kylie Ladner, Olivia Kundysek, Cierra Ray; (front row) Ava Rojas, Christina Thomsen, Vanessa Smith, Emma French, Alyson Walling and Leilani Andrews.

The Benicia Outlaws 8-under traveling softball team won its second consecutive NorCal Regional Championship last weekend in Hayward, becoming the first Outlaws team to win back-to-back Regional Championships.

The Outlaws defeated the Union City Fury in their first game, 12-0. Benicia pitchers Alana Robinson and Emma French combined for 12 strikeouts and allowed only one hit.

Benicia got on the board in the first inning with a home run by Ava Rojas, followed by RBI doubles from Venessa Smith and Cierra Ray for an early 5-0 lead. Benicia scored two more runs in the second inning and added three more in the third on a triple by Ray.

The Outlaws won their second game against the San Carlos Force, 9-0. Robinson and French combined for 10 strikeouts and again surrendered only one hit. Smith, French, Ray and Leilani Andrews each had RBI singles to put Benicia up 5-0 in the first. Robinson and Kylie Ladner added late RBIs.

Benicia played the San Jose Twisters for the right to advance to the championship game. As it had in the previous two games, Benicia jumped out to an early lead when Alyson Walling walked to lead off the game and Rojas drove her in with a soaring RBI triple. Smith followed with a RBI double and later scored on a RBI double by Ray to put Benicia up 3-0 after one.

Benicia’s rally in the second inning started when Jasmyn White led off with a walk, swiped second and third and scored on a RBI single by Walling. The Outlaws added four more runs with RBIs by Rojas and French to put Benicia up 8-0, and a five-run third inning highlighted by RBI singles from Ladner, White, Emily Shedoudy and Christina Thomsen helped Benicia cruise to a 14-0 victory. Robinson and French combined for a no-hitter, striking out six and walking four.

Benicia advanced to the championship game to play the undefeated San Mateo Slammers. San Mateo scored a run in the top of the first on an error, a stolen base and two ground outs, but Benicia answered in the bottom of the second with RBI singles from French and Olivia Kundysek to take a 2-1 lead. The Outlaws increased their lead when Andrews scored on a ground out by Thomsen.

The Slammers scored a run in the third to pull within 3-2, but Benicia broke the game open with four runs in the bottom of the inning. Walling, Rojas, Smith, French, Kundysek and Robinson each smashed hits to put Benicia up 7-2 en route to an 8-2 victory. Robinson and French combined for five strikeouts while surrendering four hits over five innings.

Benicia hosts its own tournament today at Community Park and is headed to the State Championship July 15-17 in San Diego.

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