When Moriarty’s softball team played a doubleheader at East Mountain last week, it was as much a local rivalry as it was a reunion. Members from both teams began their softball journeys with East Mountain Little League — on the same field the Lady Timberwolves call home.
“It’s crazy to be back here, I haven’t played here in a long time,” said Moriarty junior Isabella Gallegos, who started in Little League a decade ago. She hit two home runs and pitched in both games of the twin bill.
Moriarty’s head coach, Patricia Gallegos, and her assistant coach, Denise Whipple, both coached at East Mountain Little League. Whipple also coached East Mountain High School’s softball team. East Mountain head coach Elizabeth Moore also coached EMLL.
Both teams came into the matchup undefeated, but Moriarty went home with the sweep.
“It’s been a long time,” Patricia Gallegos said about starting the season with a 5-0 record.
The doubleheader started under sunshine but ended in cold, cloudy darkness. The Lady Pintos won the first game 15-5 and the second game 24-10.
The first game got underway with Isabella Gallegos hitting a two-run blast into the trees beyond the outfield fence for her first home run of the season. East Mountain answered with two runs in the bottom of the first. Ainsley Milligan’s two-RBI double in the top of
the second sparked an eight-run spurt to put Moriarty up 10-2.
East Mountain’s Abby Moore, who pitched both games for the Timberwolves, hit an RBI double in the bottom of the second to cut the margin to 10-5. Gallegos crushed her second home run in the top of the third.
“I think the first one I hit harder, because the second one I did not think was gonna go out,” Gallegos said. She scored four runs in the game.
The game ended in the fifth inning on the 10-run mercy rule.
Both teams came out swinging in the second game. After Moriarty scored five runs in the top of the first, East Mountain scored seven runs in the bottom of the frame and added another in the second for an 8-5 lead. Moriarty tied the game with three runs in the top of the third before East Mountain added two more to go up 10-8.
Moriarty took control with 11 runs in the fourth inning and added five in the fifth.
“I think we were all kind of pretty excited to play Moriarty because they’re kind of like a rival to us,” East Mountain’s Ashlynne Lucero said.
“They were our best challenge as of yet, so we know what we need to work on now,” Elizabeth Moore added.
Moriarty’s Julie Autrey, who played softball and baseball in East Mountain Little League, said it was “definitely an experience” coming back.
“The last time that I was on this field I was helping younger girls, my little sister’s team,” Autrey said. “So, coming here and coaching, and then coming and playing a high school game, it’s an honor and also a little nerve-wracking.”