Softball: Spartans silence Pas Poly in Duarte Tourny
By Miguel A. Melendez
Staff Writer
DUARTE -- For the early part of the game, Pasadena Poly softball pitcher Heather Choi kept them guessing with her change-up.
But by the fourth inning, La Canada seemed to have figured her out. The Spartans scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings en route to an 8-0 win over the Panthers in the final round of round- robin play of the 20th Duarte Freeway Tournament.
La Canada (3-0) finished unbeaten in pool play but that didn't necessarily guarantee a spot in Friday's championship game against Crescenta Valley (3-0).
Because three of the four group leaders were unbeaten, runs against was used as the second tiebreaker.
But La Salle (3-0) in Group A and Marshall (3-0) in Group D along with the Spartans each had given up four runs, meaning the third tiebreaker would be a coin toss.
La Canada, however, learned La Salle had given up a run, knocking them out of title contention. Thus, it was crucial the Spartans beat the Panthers (1-2) via a shutout to stay alive - and they did.
A coin flip will determine whether La Canada or Marshall will advance to play Crescenta Valley.
Nonetheless, the Spartans are unbeaten, thanks to an offensive outburst in back-to-back innings.
Anna Edwards stole home to put La Canada on top, 1-0.
Devon Zerebko's sacrifice fly brought home Abby Ulf, who singled to left field. Anna Applebaum tripled and scored on a Kylie Mulligan single to left to make it 3-0.
Edwards went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, including a home run in the seventh. Zerebko had four RBIs.
"Our girls are doing a real good job of moving runners over," Spartans coach K.C. Mathews said. "(Choi) did a great job keeping us off balance. She had a great change up and that kept us in front a little bit."
Choi, only a freshman, began showing signs of fatigue in the fourth and that's when things unraveled.
"Heather missed on a couple pitches but she started to get tired also," Pasadena Poly coach Jeff Taylor said. "It was just one of those innings. We knew we had to field everything flawlessly because they were going to hit the ball hard."
Choi fell behind in the count to start the fifth and that led to Catherine Horner drawing a walk. Joanna Burlison's bunt moved Horner all the way to third after the Panthers mishandled the play to first.
Edwards' sacrifice fly scored Horner to make it 4-0. Abby Ulf then singled and Zerebko brought Ulf and Burlison home off a single to left field to make it 6-0 and two outs recorded.
"We had base runners on almost every inning," Mathews said. "We're doing a pretty decent job of getting runners on and spreading it out. All up and down the lineup we're hitting the ball and not relying on one girl to carry us."
Sophomore standout Lauren O'Leary pitched the distance, allowing six hits and recording seven strikeouts.
"(O'Leary's) been outstanding," Mathews said. "She's picking up where she left off and really has improved over the last year."
Pasadena Poly will use this as a learning experience. The team did not fully come together until Feb. 17 since many of the players are two- and three-sport athletes.
"We've only been out there a few weeks," Taylor said. "We had kids who were on playoff runs, and I'm not using it as an excuse, but this gives us a barometer of where we're at and where we need to be, especially facing a team of La Canada's caliber."
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
Cox has a pulled groin.
Marshall Fundamental beat Poly already in their first game of the season.
Marshall Fundamental beat Poly already in their first game of the season.
Uncle Smack Talking LC Fan,
Nobody's hatin' (yet), I picked them #1 on my top 10. Now they just have to bring it. The RHL is going to be tough all the way down the line.
It just came over the wire that Ms. Cox was released from the team...
(joke)
I'm a soccer dad, so my DD can't get in trouble and neither can I!!!!!. I've got two words to silence all of you LC Haters....at least at the plate: Lauren Cox
And no...I am not her dad.
...or change their colors to green and white and call themselves Ra Canada.
Somebody needs to get Coach Chuck and LC hat for the pictures!
Where are all of the smack talking La Canada fans? My guess is that they have been warned to stay off of here. Thats too bad, it was always entertaining.
Congratulations to the Spartans on a great showing in the Duarte tournament. They are a very talented bunch who work very hard to get where they are at.
Poly will be the team to beat in the Prep League this year. Flintridge Prep should also be at the top of the league.
Nice coverage Miguel.
It looks like the RHL is going to be a battle. Between LaCanada, Temple City, South Pasadena, and Monrovia (who has come back to life), I believe that the rest of the area is going to have a hard time keeping up. They also play each other 3 times so you get rubber matches which is always interesting. (A little birdie told me that San Marino may be turning the corner as well this year, (we'll see).
Maranantha has a shot at being the cinderella story if thier leaders can keep their team believing.
LaSalle has the pieces, but I am still trying to figure out the implications of them losing 8-0 to Monrovia.
South Pasadena could be a sleeper. Word has it that they played well against Crescenta Valley and are better than what you might have imagined after losing Parada.
Sad to say, but Jessica Ferri is going to have to pitch perfect games all year in order for FSH to compete for a top spot, and it is only going to get tougher for them. Could you imagine her on one of the RHL teams? She would be unbeatable.
My question is, how good was the Marshall team that beat Monrovia 6-1?
Has the coin toss taken place?
Do you think that La Canada can hang with Crescenta Valley? I think they can if they bring it and aren't intimidated by the big bats. They also have to hit really good pitching and move runners like their coach talked about.
Also do you think it would be possible for you to attach the Duarte brackets and match-ups for the next few days? (at least give a link)
Thanks, luv ya, your the best.