Coronado’s Tatum Spangler is congratulated by teammates and coaches after hitting a home run off the second pitch of the game against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado’s Ashley Ward (7) slides safely into second base after Silverado’s Alezandria Guariglia bobbled the throw Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado’s Ashley Ward (7) slides safely into home under the tag of Silverado catcher Jessica Boothe Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado’s Ashley Ward (7) celebrates with teammates after scoring against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado’s Aleah Baldonado (4) celebrates after getting on base against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Silverado’s Alezandria Guariglia comes up short on a Coronado fly ball Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Silverado’s Megan Johnson throws to first during a softball game against Coronado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
CoronadoÕs Aleah Baldonado (4) throws to first base after fielding a ground ball against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
CoronadoÕs Sydney Smith (13) bobbles the throw as Silverado’s Megan Johnson slides safely into second base Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
CoronadoÕs Tatum Spangler (5) pitches against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
CoronadoÕs Veronica Jarchow (2) is safe on second base past the tag of Megan Johnson of Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
CoronadoÕs Alyana Lopez makes a catch against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado pitcher Tatum Spangler (5) throws to first base against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Silverado’s Meleah Rivera throws to first during a softball game against Coronado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado’s Alyana Lopez (9), left, and Ashley Ward (7) celebrate a catch by Lopez to end the third inning against Silverado Monday, March 19, 2018, at Silverado High School. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado’s softball team struggled over the weekend, going 1-4 in the Torrance (California) National Invitational.
The Cougars had no such struggles Monday.
Tatum Spangler went 3-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs and picked up the victory as Coronado rolled to a 13-2 road win over Silverado.
“We purposely play a tough schedule, and we face some really tough teams and pitchers,” Coronado coach Melissa Krueger said. “And that’s to prepare us for this. I do that schedule intentionally so that the girls can come out here and have confidence and know that, ‘Hey, if I can take good cuts against some of these top California teams, then I can hit anyone in town.’”
Spangler wasted little time putting Coronado (6-6, 2-0 Sunrise League) in control, as she smacked the second pitch of the game over the fence in right-center field. The Cougars added four unearned runs in the inning to take control.
“Tatum’s the real deal,” Krueger said. “She’s having a great start so far. She’s doing well on the mound. She gets up there, she takes her cuts. She’s a true captain — a true leader of this team.”
Ashley Ward, the team’s No. 2 hitter, led off the second by lining a homer to dead center.
“I’ve got (Spangler) and Ashley batting one-two, and it’s quite the one-two punch,” Krueger said. “We don’t fool too many people in town thinking they’re going to get up there and slap. But it was fun to watch some of the out-of-state teams think both of them were slappers until they took their first cuts.”
Aleah Baldonado went 3-for-4 with three runs, and Sydney Smith was 2-for-2 with two runs and an RBI for Coronado.
Spangler allowed four hits and struck out eight.
Meleah Rivera was 1-for-1 with an RBI double for Silverado (7-3, 2-1)
