Roundup : Madison Romps in Short Game

CHULA VISTA —  What was supposed to be a matchup between one of the county’s best softball teams, Madison, and one in the rebuilding stage, Bonita Vista, ended abruptly Wednesday after four innings with Madison leading, 10-2, at Bonita Vista.

The game was halted when Madison’s Rene Hoffman suffered a hypoglycemia-related fainting spell on the Madison bench between the fourth and the fifth innings after playing an inning at third base.

Hoffman, 17, was taken to Kaiser Permanente hospital, where she underwent tests and was released.

“During the inning I noticed she was a little (lackadaisical),” Madison Coach Steve Miner said.

Hoffman returned to the bench after the inning and fainted. Paramedic Joseph Desio said her blood sugar level had decreased, causing her to faint. She was given candy and an orange and was coherent when paramedics arrived.

“I felt it coming on,” Hoffman said. “What am I going to do, call timeout and get a cracker?”

Said Miner: “That’s exactly what you do next time.”

The game was delayed nearly an hour before Miner and Bonita Vista Coach Bonnie Pyle decided not to continue.

Madison (7-0) jumped in front, 3-0, in the first inning when Kim Lester hit Pua Lopez’s 3-1 pitch to deep left field for a three-run home run. Madison went ahead, 5-0, in the second inning on Christy Serritella’s two-run shot. Lori Hurlburt also hit a two-run home run in the fourth, when Madison scored five runs.

Jennifer Booker, Madison’s sophomore pitcher, has had trouble getting on track this season after throwing two no-hitters as a freshman. She injured her ankle in the first game and had not pitched until Wednesday. She is also one of four quality pitchers at Madison.

“I don’t think I pitched real good,” she said.

Booker struck out four and gave up two hits, one a two-run home run by catcher Kalei Lopez in the fourth inning for Bonita Vista (1-3).

“I thought she threw well,” Miner said. “We’ve been working with her to stay in good spots. She’s going to be a really fine pitcher.

“Right now I’m pleased. We’re playing very well.”

Madison, which has six players who have been starters for three years, won two games last weekend in a tournament in Anaheim. Madison returns for two more games there Saturday.

“That got our girls thinking positively,” Miner said. “I hope it continues this weekend and through the rest of the season.”