Softball: The Queens of Cameron go to West Covina, 10-9 in a thriller over South Hills

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West Covina’s Dekota Monarrez (9) celebrates after a two run homer in the sixth inning helped the Bulldogs knock off the Huskies, 10-9. She hit three home runs and had four RBIs. (SGVN/Staff Photo by Keith Birmingham/SPORTS) . Will post the story later.

Once again, another brilliant Birmingham photo gallery.

West Covina catcher Jennifer Rodriguez (25) tags out South Hills High School Vanessa Molina (92) at home plate in the sixth inning during.


Here’s Steve Ramirez’ story from the game:

Rivalry games are supposed to bring out the best in players, and that certainly worked for West Covina High School softball player Dekota Monarrez.
The junior hit three home runs and had four RBIs before picking up the save in relief in the circle and the visiting Bulldogs opened San Antonio League play with a 10-9 victory over rival South Hills on Thursday.
The Bulldogs, also getting two home runs and five RBIs from Camille Herrera and three hits and three runs from Juunae Dai’re, improved to 6-2. South Hills, getting three hits and two RBIs from Sam Nieves and three hits and five RBIs from Kristen Stewart, slipped to 4-2.
“I just went up there and tried to get base hits,” Monarrez said. “Whatever came, came. The pitches were just right there. (South Hills’ Sydney La Folletre) tried to keep them low, but she missed and I just took advantage.”
Monarrez and Herrera twice hit back-to-back homers. The duo made it 4-3 in the third with back-to-back shots before doing it again in the fourth for an 8-5 advantage.
But South Hills refused to give in. The Huskies made it 8-7 in the bottom of the fourth on RBIs by Nieves and Stewart. South Hills, after Monarrez made it 10-7 with a two-run homer in the sixth, rallied to cut it to 10-9 in the bottom of the inning.
But the Huskies missed a chance to possibly tie the score after Vanessa Molina led off the sixth with a double. She was thrown out at home following a single by Tiffany Rivas, who was in turn gunned down trying to advance to third.
Stewart then followed a single by Brittney Rodriguez and a double by Nieves with a two-run single to make it 10-9.
“The girl made a great throw from center,” South Hills coach Scott Fisch said. “I thought the catcher might have blocked the plate, but you win some, you lose some. I was surprised (Rivas) tried to go to third, because we didn’t need another out. That took a lot of the wind out of our sails.”
Monarrez nailed down the win, retiring South Hills in the seventh for the save.
“I knew we could hit,” West Covina coach Dan Woodward said. “Our pitching needs to be more consistent. I’ve told the girls before that we can beat anybody.”
[TAG1]steve.ramirez@sgvn.com 626-962-8811, ext. 2296

Other softball scores
Miramonte League
Los Altos 7, Wilson 2
San Antonio League
Walnut 1, Rowland 0
Serra League
Bishop Amat 1, Cantwell 0
Valle Vista League
San Dimas 12, Baldwin Park 0 (5 inn.)

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  • ????

    It was a great game!!! Great coaching from West Covina, they intentionally walked Rodriguez twice and worked out for them. Maybe SH caoch should learn from that!

  • BulldogsFan

    wc rules!is that what their coach has to say? blaming the lost on the call at home and the out on 3rd? why not that their pitchers kept throwing fat cookies? lol lol lol lol

  • LA FAN

    Rodriguez is by far the best hitter in the Valley, I dont think she will get too many ptiches to hit this year. Great job WC, smart coaching, great hitting!!! Fat cookies is exactly what I would call them!! LOL

  • AE 1178

    Dang coach, what would you have her do, catch the ball, stand to the side, and let her go by? You’re a catcher, you catch the ball and put yourself in a position to make a tag without the girl getting near the the plate. Don’t ruin a great game by beefing about that. Sounds like the catcher was well coached and well prepared for just that exact play. Great job bulldogs and great job number 2.

  • AE 1178

    Dang coach, what would you have her do, catch the ball, stand to the side, and let her go by? You’re a catcher, you catch the ball and put yourself in a position to make a tag without the girl getting near the the plate. Don’t ruin a great game by beefing about that. Sounds like the catcher was well coached and well prepared for just that exact play. Great job bulldogs and great job number 2.

  • AE 1178

    Dang coach, what would you have her do, catch the ball, stand to the side, and let her go by? You’re a catcher, you catch the ball and put yourself in a position to make a tag without the girl getting near the the plate. Don’t ruin a great game by beefing about that. Sounds like the catcher was well coached and well prepared for just that exact play. Great job bulldogs and great job number 2.

  • Steve Ramirez

    I believe in amateur baseball/softball (high school/college) you are not allowed to block a base/plate before you get the ball. That’s what coach Fisch was arguing. But I don’t get the sense that’s what cost them the game. I do believe what did was Molina trying to score on Rivas’ single, with her team trailing 10-7 and no outs a mistake. Outs have to be held to a premium at that point in the game, and you don’t chances like that, unless it’s the tying or go-ahead run your trying to score. I will point out that coach Fisch has won a CIF-SS title, criticism by most here has no merit. But both of these two teams should rank among the best-hitting teams in the area, right up there with Covina and Charter Oak.

  • BulldogsFan

    when did sh coach win a cif-ss title? must be over 10 years, no? cause i can recall last 10 years who won in WC’s division and sh not being one of the teams

  • bottom f 911

    #2 and the girls had a great game! way to slug it out! that was a real heavy weight prize fight! it may be a little early….. but do i smell a world title for #2 and the b dogs?

  • http://ness John Cochtoasten

    Maybe the Huskie coach should be more concerned with his team and the fact that West Covina hit 5 home runs. Coaches should credit the opponent more. Some games you win and some you lose. Not pitching to Rodriguez was another masterful move by the West Covina coaching staff.

  • Get Real

    This game really could have gone either way. I mean lets be realistic the score was 10-9 not
    10-0! SH beat up on WC pretty good too!

  • Get Real

    This game really could have gone either way. I mean lets be realistic the score was 10-9 not 10-0. SH beat up on WC pretty good too. I don’t think WC is strong enough to go the distance. SH has beat Bonita 2x and tied 1 in the last 2 years plus SH beat SD both of these teams rank pretty high in a higher division. How did WC do against them? Exactly! Don’t rule out SH just yet.

  • BulldogsFan

    john c. wc did pitch to rodriguez. she hit a single. she was only walked 2 times. so give some credit for keeping her at a single.

  • laughable

    Steve Ramirez said:
    But both of these two teams should rank among the best-hitting teams in the area, right up there with Covina and Charter Oak.

    Covina a good hitting team??????? Come on, they belong in the cookie league for the exception of San Dimas

  • http://ness John Cochtoasten

    You are absolutely correct. South Hills does have a good team and definitely capable of beating West Covina. It does not really matter who beat Bonita and San Dimas in the past few years. The game is and should be year to year, game to game.

  • BottomLine

    is that both teams hit well. but when you take rodriguez’s bat out from the lineup, you make up for it by taking out DM’s bat from the lineup too. if sh coach did that, diffr’nt ending. score then 9-6

  • COLLEGE RECRUITER

    How about this pitcher Barnard for South Hills? Suppose to be a 3rd year varsity pitcher? Parents claim she plays for travel elite team?? Are you kidding? Do you know how many homeruns she has already given up? Coach Fisch has tried to give her chances early on to prove herself but for what? They didn’t play for the championship of their last tournament because of extra runs she gave up. So much for preseason hype for this girl.

  • WHY-

    With all that’s gone on recently, why would you call out an individual player negatively? NOT cool! Two good experienced teams played, played hard, one team beat the other by 1 run, sounds like a great game. Give the players credit for a great game played, don’t look to bash a player.

  • please!

    The bottom line is both these teams have average at best pitching. Can they beat the big girls in the stronger divisions Yes! but they need a near flawless performance from their pitchers. The upper divisions have better pitching that can shut them out on any given weekend. Both are Middle of the road teams, please tell me what will the ERA’s look like after this game 5.00+ not good for fastpitch softball and all the hype about both these teams having good pitching is exactly that only hype………………………………

  • Karma -

    Hey COLLEGE RECRUITER scumbag… it doesnt take much in the brains dept to figure out who you are. you better go back to pumping up your kid but while you do, think about this..do you know what karma is? here is the definition “action, seen as bringing upon oneself inevitable results, good or bad, either in this life or in a reincarnation”… only its better. I believe YOUR kid will pay for YOUR actions…thats how it always go!

  • big brother

    I agree with ??? SH coach should learn something from WC. SH coach was like a little boy throwing a tantrum in the dug out when WC hit the HRs off his #1 pitcher. He threw a ball at the blue and almost got ejected from the game. The last cif title SH coach won was in 1990 what??? and league champs in 1990 what??? The man doesnt know how to coach!!!!

  • cheaters

    may the cheaters at sh continue to looooooooooose like the deus karmaticus decideth them to….

    west covina = heroes
    that other team = recruiting cheaters get johoned

  • ???

    That was a joke when Fisch did that, someone should have taken away his bucket and put him in the corner! SH has no pitching to take them anywhere! The starting pitcher got hammerd! John you are absolutly right WC coaching was smart to walk Rodriguez she has the portential to change the game at any time! Great job for WC pitchers yo keep her at a single! Bottom line SH got out coached by the Big Dogs!!

  • fact check

    Actually, 1997 was last CIF championship for SH. I was looking at the all-time high school softball records I saw that the record for home runs in a game is 4. Dekota was one away, maybe next time. One thing for, SH goes into the Sierra League next year, they will probably not see CIF payoffs again for many years. Too many strong teams.

  • Dianna Bernard

    Hi College Recruiter, I’m sorry you are soooo upset and a coward to hide behind an anonymous name. By the way it’s BERNARD! We have never claimed anything about our daughter being on an elite team and actually she played for the last 2 years on an average team at best. As far as HRs are concerned yep you’re a genius calling out the obvious! She has definitely been in a bit of a slump during high school ball. In travel she has given up very few HR’s over the past few years. Now lets take a look at the Duarte Tournament, we gave up a total of 6 runs and BOTH PITCHERS gave up the same amount. So what you’re saying is the other pitchers runs are ok? I am not going to say one pitcher is better than the other,but do I feel one has more experience than the other absolutely. If you truly know my daughter then shame on you. I thank god that she does not see these stupid blogs. She is one of the most caring team mates out there. She truly has everyones back and never bad mouths any of them. And another thing there was no preseason hype about her at least not by us or her. The other pitcher has always had the knowledge of being starting pitcher…Tori was never even mentioned as being part of the team in the SGV Tribune article a few weeks ago. So this hype must be in your own little helpless head. Tori will finish her senior year and move on in life to become a wonderful caring person. Her beautiful smile will continue to brighten mine and others every day and you my friend will continue to beat up on young girls because you have NO LIFE. I feel really sorry for your family.
    Have a great day!

    Way to go Tori pitching 9 innings today against Chloe, Bonita with a 3-3 tie. You go girl! Chloe you pitched a great game too! Love to see a good battle. Oh I’m sorry College recruiter am I hyping up my kid, get a life!

  • Juan lagos

    As for Rodriguez she was only intentionally walked once the other was a true walk and had a single. So much for the best hitter in the valley! She does hit a home run once in a while and they are deeeep at best she pops up, strikes out or flies out. If you are saying the pitcher does not give her anything to hit……Well, being the best hitter in the valley she should be able to make something happen….Dekota will get the record for HR this year. Who is calling SH #1 pitchers game? the best catcher in the league? LOL. BULLDOGS called and caught a great game!

  • Dianna Bernard

    Way to go Juan Way to go! Another loser who loves to put young girls down. This girl can’t even drive a car yet and you’re attacking her! What a big man you are, your family must be very proud.

    We know girls on WC and think they’re great kids it’s people like you that ruin things just shut up and enjoy watching these girls play a sport that they love. Stop attacking kids. Good luck to the players on WC and SH this season.

  • grouphug

    Hey Juan Pollo how many hits did WC get against Bonita? huh huh huh! ok I’ll tell you 2 so much for that. Dekota is a stud I’ll give you that but the problem is the San Antonio is loaded with average pitching no offense Dianna B. Tori is a great kid what I like about her is she plays the game the way it is supposed to be played. Fundamentally she does all the right things and loves to make things happen when it counts. like today stealing second base in a tie game, she made it look to easy with the head first slide and its not like she’s a speed demon. I Truly loved it when she just played the infield, my gut tells me this kid makes one heck of a coach some day.

  • Mike G.

    Juan common, let’s give credit to where credit is given. Rodriguez is a person just like everyone she is going to strikeout pop up. Dianna you are right these are just kids! As for being the beat catcher calling the game get the facts straight the coaches are the ones calling the game. Rodriguez is great hitter and Benar is a great pitcher, everyone great pitcher and great hitter are going to have their good days an their bad days, but it doesn’t mean they are not good players. Juan Looser I mean Lagos get ahold of yourself you are embarrasing the rest of us, unless your kid bats 1000 and has no fielding errors then just sit back and enjoy the game just like the rest of us. I don’t think these kids rate themselves as the best if anything it’s parents like us that do it for them. Let’s just let them play! Stop giving WC a bad name! Juan Looser! I AM A WC PARENT COME SEE ME IF ANYONE HAS A PROBLEM!

  • LA Fan

    Hey Juan, let see as I recall Last year Rodriguez put two over the fence, and a standing triple in one game not bad for not making an adjustment huh! She is one of the best in the valley!!!! She is only a sophmore and committed to UCLA that should tell you what type player she is! Not only that she is a GREAT kid, and she has worked her Ass of to be where she is today.

  • Dianna Bernard

    Hey Grouphug thanks and no offense was taken. We have never claimed that she is the best pitcher out there nor has she. She is just a solid athlete that enjoys playing softball and isn’t afraid to abuse her body to get the job done. Thanks for the nice oomments and yes I agree with you I think she will make a great coach someday.

  • LA Fan

    Hey Juan, let see as I recall Last year Rodriguez put two over the fence, and a standing triple in one game not bad for not making an adjustment huh! She is one of the best in the valley!!!! She is only a sophmore and committed to UCLA that should tell you what type player she is! Not only that she is a GREAT kid, and she has worked her Ass of to be where she is today.

  • Dianna Bernard

    Thanks Mike G. good luck to your daughter this season and the whole WC team! We have 2 more games against you guys and I’m sure they will be exciting as always.

  • Dianna Bernard

    I meant COMMENTS not oomments……. ooh man I try so hard not to have a typo! LOL

  • juan lagos

    hey la fan I am just watching the games… Dont get mad when the truth is spoken…Like I said when she gets a hold of one she hits deep. As for the 2 HRs and triple that was last year like someone said everything is based on year to year. She has a verbal with UCLA from what I understand. Props to her on that. all i am saying best in the valley?? i dont think so.
    Juan pollo ha ha that is funny like I havent heard that before.

  • LA FAN

    Like wise Juan, like wise! Everyone is entiled to an oppion but when it’s one out of a hundred guess what your oppion doesn’t matter. Like Dianne said she is just a kid and at the end if the day I’m sure she’s not thinking ” I’m the best in the Valley “. I’m not in either side, but the fact is you shouldn’t be attacking one player to pump up another. These kids are playing a sport that they enjoy and at the end of the day they ARE JUST KIDS! Stop acting like you’re 16 and just enjoy watching your daughter play and whatever happens, happens!

  • sh fan

    Diana! Sit down and shut up! I’m sick and tired of hearing you on the blog and at games. Tori is a good player at certain times. She gets flustered at the drop of a hat. If she hadn’t pitched those “cookies” in the Duarte Tournament South Hills would have been in the Championship game against La Canada instead of another blow out against Whittier. Your daughter couldn’t even hit the ball off of the Whittier pitcher. Two strikeouts on the pitching!? Shut up during the games! Make your daughter listen to the coaches instead of telling her to do stuff that you want her to do.

  • updater

    you all have to understand and put in reality that this is only high school that’s it! alot of these girls are great highshcool players let them play the game they love and move on!!travel is a different story and they will learn from it!!! you guys hype a player or two so what!!lol it is what it is!! let the players prove it on the field!! trust me they are average players on there travel team and I’m sure there parents would be the to tell you!! If there on a legit team!! so let’em be…I’ m happy for the SGV teams doing well and representing well!! keep it up!!

  • fann

    It’s interesting to read the opinions,but no one seems to recognize the role of the West Covina outfielder Alex Blanco.She was a key player who set the tone early with her consistent hitting.Also,the third baseman/ss/catcher Herrera won the San Antonio Batting Title the year before last.Herrera missed several games this year as well as the West Covina center fielder Janae.They were not present when West Covina played Bonita or Los Altos. Herrera will be going to UCR on a scholarship and Janae will be to a back East college on a scholarship as well.

  • fann

    when mentioning San Antonio League Players, it should be mentioned that the 1st team all CIF players last year were Rodriguez and Herrera. Cano was 2nd team all Cif. We should combine the two teams to compete with the elite OC and Riverside pitching. we might not do to bad.

  • Dianna Bernard

    sh fan why are you a coward hiding your name??? Are you kidding me right now? So Sydney’s 3 runs that she gave up were ok but Tori’s 3 runs cost us? How cool of you to POINT FINGERS at one player on a TEAM sport. This must be the person that Scott was talking about in those emails. Tori ALWAYS listens to her coaches and I never tell her what to do and if you are refering to the Bonita game, I got caught up in that moment at the bottom of 9 innings and said something about her hitting instead of bunting. I didn’t want there to be an automatic out, which is what a bunt usually is. So what she was still going to do whatever the coach said. She is never disrespectful to her coaches and for you to imply otherwise is just stupid. Wow you really spend a lot of time watching her every at bat do you keep a book on her? I didn’t even remember how she batted in that game. Oh and by the way Tori doesn’t get flustered but you sure do! LMFAO

  • SIERRA FAN…view from afar…

    Top arm in the sierra league continues to dominate…J.Hall of AYALA struck out 16 chargers in a split dh against el toro..she did not pitch the second game….Hall’s numbers so far…6-0. ERA is nil.nil nil 79 K’z, OPP. BA is nearing .021…bulldogs open play in the nike faster to first tournament on thursday…

  • Sierra League

    Are you SH parents going to bring this garbage into the Sierra League? You won’t have much to talk about when you are dead last in the Sierra. All this talk is similar to the talk you hear in the rec ball leagues, which I assume most of your players still participate in, I’m sure you can’t wait to get back to all-stars after the high school season.

  • dave martinez

    “some one has to” aahhhhhhhhh the famous words of a coward. “some one has to blah blah balh!”

    never even heard this women’s name and she’s “ALL OVER THE BLOG??”

    Seems to me you have a personal problem you’re not barve enough to take up face to face or….you just like embarrassing people because ‘your” life is a cluster fck of misery.

    get a life dude….you’re bagging on girls and picking fights with women for crying out loud !

    I will give you credit though…you had enough courage to leave your name like …oh wait…you didn’t did you?

  • Wiseguy

    fann
    So your telling me those two players would have made all the differrence in the game against bonita. Ok the score would have been 5-0 not 7-0 lol. Fan the man Please when West Covina beats a worthy opponent outside the San Antonio you can talk untill then shutz the pie hole !!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • other softball scores

    3-20-10
    Etiwanda over Bishop Amat 8-1
    Etiwanda over Bishop Amat 10-0

  • Football

    And you guys talk about football bloggers….

  • Dianna Bernard

    Enough already. This is really getting out of hand. Who cares if you think a pitcher is average or not. This is High School ball and these are just kids wanting to play and support their school! PERIOD. What is sad is that YOU feel it is neccessary to go on a public forum and personally humiliate a child. This girl is 15 and yes maybe she doesn’t have the mental tuffness to dominate YET, but she will learn with experiense and she doesn’t need a lowlife jackass as yourself to tell her otherwise! Stop with the personal attacks because these girls don’t deserve it.

  • fann

    hey wise guy,your right, this is only high school ball

  • USC FAN

    WOW! I am going to a South Hills game just to see all of the DRAMA!

    It is sad though that people complain about teenage girls playing a “GAME”!

    It’s sacry to think that my 4 year old daughter who just started playing softball may have to go through this crap.

  • 2222222222

    Hey Fred did you see the new Cif polls?