The Ripon High softball team gave up a first-inning run in its home opener against defending Northern California Division V champion Big Valley Christian Friday afternoon and it looked like the Lions were not done.

But with Big Valley runners on second and third with one out, pitcher Kharime Caratachea remained calm and worked her way out of trouble with a strikeout and a groundout to end the frame.

The Lions did not score again as Ripon went on to win 3-1.

Even though she is a junior, Caratachea has just about seen it all, given her travel ball experience. Before she recorded her first varsity out, she spent time in the big leagues of the summer circuit, 18u. As a rising freshman and again the summer before her sophomore season, she had to pitch herself out of a number of tough situations against players with commitments to play college softball everywhere from NAIA to NCAA Division I schools.

Though she was not always successful, she learned lessons that she uses as her role grows for her school.

“Throwing in high school is a lot different from throwing in travel ball,” she said. ”On those travel teams, their whole lineup is commits. My skill level got a lot better and my speed got a lot better. I had to get an out somewhere during 18u.”

After one run scored in the first, Caratachea pitched six shutout innings with four strikeouts. She helped herself out at the plate with an RBI double to left field in the bottom of the second to tie the game. Sophomores Chloe Lautenslager and Alana Hernandez added one RBI apiece in the fourth and fifth innings to help seal the victory.

The Indians broke in their brand new softball field in just their second game this season Friday afternoon. Like many teams, they have rescheduled games due to the recent rain, but first year coach Tanner Jordan is happy with how his team performed.

“For our second game, I’m happy with how we look,” Jordan said. “We were able to execute offensively when we went to small ball and we got a look of how we’re going to play defensively. … Our whole team is coming along very well.”

In Caratachea’s first year, she played behind a senior, last season she impressed as a sophomore with a 16-3 record and this year, is 2-0 and was voted a captain by her teammates.

“Her development over the years has been phenomenal,” said Jordan. “She’s in her third year starting as a pitcher and she is just becoming more and more of a leader on this team.”

On Feb. 25, she committed to play collegiate softball at William Penn University but she won’t be there alone. Current Ripon High senior and fellow captain Peyton Naranjo is also a WPU commit.

A team that has just two seniors will look to its captains, and future college teammates, as it looks to repeat as Trans-Valley League champions and advance to its first section final since 2019 after falling in the semifinals to Dixon last season.

“We have some young players at some spots and it’s not the exact same team as we had last year, but our goal is just go as far as we can and have fun along the way.” said Jordan.