Gridley senior pitcher Maddie Garcia (10) tosses a pitch in the Lady Bulldogs’ 12-7 win over Hamilton on Thursday, March 21.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Gridley girls softball team went perfect in their three games during the week of March 18-22 as they had victories over Winters, Hamilton and Paradise.

Gridley was scheduled to host a three-day tournament from Thursday, March 21, through Saturday, March 23, but the games on Saturday were canceled due to weather conditions.

Lady Bulldogs Head Coach Tammy Carr said to the Herald that it was a great couple days as they were able to get all scheduled games complete for Thursday and Friday.

The Gridley dugout cheers for freshman utility Kaydenze Pruitt after she hit an inside-the-park home run in the Lady Bulldogs’ 12-7 victory over Hamilton on Thursday, March 21.

She added it was a great week for the team as they recorded their first win of the season on Wednesday, March 20, with a 7-6 win over Winters. The win was followed up by two more on March 21 in the 12-7 win over Hamilton and 7-2 victory over Paradise.

Gridley senior infielder Alyssa Thompson hit a two-out grand slam in the top of the fourth inning to give the Lady Bulldogs the lead in their win over Winters.

Gridley senior pitcher Maddie Garcia took the circle against Hamilton in the tournament opener and was locked in. Garcia gave up three runs in the first couple innings, but at the plate, she gave herself the lead back in the bottom of the second with a runs-batted-in single.

Although Hamilton took the lead back in the third inning, the 11 hits by the Lady Bulldogs were too much for Hamilton, including an inside-the-park home run by freshman utility Kaydenze Pruitt in the fourth that scored the final three runs for Gridley.

Gridley freshman utility Kaydenze Pruitt (28) follows through on a base hit in the Lady Bulldogs’ 12-7 win on Thursday, March 21, against Hamilton.

Pruitt and Garcia combined for six hits and eight RBI’s in the top two spots in the lineup during the win over Hamilton.

Garcia retired the side in the top of the fifth inning to end the game. Garcia expressed to the Herald that she put in the work during the offseason a lot on her game to attribute to the new confidence level she has in her senior season.

“Over the years, I felt like I was smaller compared to everyone else,” Garcia said. “I found myself and my stride along with the confidence more than I ever have.” The confidence level Garcia gained over the past season was displayed in the game against Hamilton. 

Garcia and Pruitt added to the hitting train as they each had a double in the game against Paradise.

Pruitt led Gridley with eight hits prior to competing this week and Thompson was the only Lady Bulldog with double-digit RBI’s in the early part of the season for Gridley.

Gridley senior pitcher Maddie Garcia (10) swings at a pitch in the Lady Bulldogs’ 12-7 victory over Hamilton on Thursday, March 21.

Lady Bulldogs junior pitcher Reese Stevens picked up her second win of the season as she threw 5.2 innings and gave up five hits and struck out four hitters against Paradise. Thompson gave the Lady Bulldogs the lead off a sacrifice fly in the first inning to score Pruitt for the lead and Gridley held on for the wire-to-wire victory.

The Lady Bulldogs were scheduled to travel and play at Red Bluff this past Tuesday until their next scheduled game on Tuesday, April 9, as they open up Butte View League play at Corning.