Softball: Wurst, Bonita take down No. 1 Glendora
There will be a new team atop the East San Gabriel Valley area softball rankings on Wednesday. Bonita High School saw to that on Monday. Chloe Wurst tossed a one hitter and struck out 13 and the No. 2 Bearcats scored a 5-0 victory over No. 1 Glendora in a Charter Oak Tournament semifinal game that was halted after six innings due to the time-limit rule.
Bonita, also getting two RBIs from Liza Liddel, improved to 17-1-1 and advanced to face St. Lucy's, a 6-0 winner over Montebello, in the championship game, scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Bearcats also avenged their only loss -- a 5-2 setback to Glendora in early March. The Tartans fell to 13-3.
"It's pride," Bonita coach Ken Carlson said of the win. "They are a darn good ballclub over there. It's a great benchmark for us. In order to be who we really want to be, we have to beat a team like that.
"We had to rise to their level, play them at their level, and I feel our ballclub did a great job of doing that today."
Wurst did her part in the circle, dominating one of the better hitting teams in the area.
She retired the first 14 batters before giving up a bloop triple to Kendra Alfonso in the fifth to finish with the one hitter and the 13 strike outs.
"I just came out on fire and the defense backed me up," said Wurst, who threw 78 pitches, 64 for strikes. "The thing about Glendora is they like to attack the ball on the first pitch.
"I tried to work ahead, and as soon as they were catching on to my rise ball, I had to change it up a little bit."
The Bearcats then backed up their force in the circle with two runs in the fourth.
They loaded the bases on a singles by Wurst and Vanessa Romero and a walk to Ciara Liscano. Liddel, who went 2 for 3, then lined a single to center to score two runs for the 2-0 advantage.
"We knew if we could get into the short game, we'd have a really good chance of scoring some runs," said Carlson, whose team put it away with three runs in the sixth for a 5-0 lead. "We've been hitting with the middle of our lineup and that's what did it for us today.
"I knew once we got them back on their heals, we might get to them."
Glendora had one look at the game following Aflonso's triple in the fifth. But after Argyle worked the count to 2-2, Wurst got her looking to end the threat.
"I read the paper and a game like this, you're playing for pride, playing for the San Gabriel Valley," Glendora coach Reese Mitchell said. "It's nice to be No. 1, but when it's all said a done, the kids got to play, and Bonita did a great job today."
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College Level Athletes
lizzytish,
The calls went both ways, the umpire at 1st base clearly blew calls in Glendora's favor. The bottom line is Bonita hit, Glendora didn't. Chloe pitched a great game and Bonita's offense did their jobs. When the hitters swing their bats, it's not left up to a judgement call behind the plate.
On another note, Glendora made some outstanding defensive plays early in the game, nice diving play made by the 2nd baseman was one that stands out most in my mind.
Not going to happen. I am not going to be right. LOL Good game Bonita. You deserve your #1 ranking. Can't believe you start 3 freshman on that team. Talent is stocked.
I agree. The umpires weren't the greatest. But you can't take anything away from Bonita's pitcher who threw a great game and has been doing that all season long. Sorry Glendora was just another victim of her pitching. Besides the 1 hitter shut out yesterday, she has 1 no hitter, 1 perfect game and 3 shut outs and has given up 1 run in the last 5 games and for the record it has NOT been the same umpire behind the plate. If you want to get into the #1 FAN CLUB, the guy on 1st base must have been a Glendora Alumni or grandfather of one of the players cause he was falling asleep and didn't even know what was going on! Glendora had a HUGE advantage on the base umps. Both are great teams and exciting to watch. Looking forward to seeing a rematch!
Izzytish,
Listen CW was on her A game period when one pitcher is throwing better that day of course your going to get more calls. Both Glendora pitchers are very good as evident in wins last year and the first meeting this year. but CW was the better pitcher yesterday no doubt. Thats the way it goes so take your medicine my son nighty nighty untill CIF.
SH senior pitcher leaves team, and now the soph. ( tall one )gets the ball the rest off the way, let's see if she gets the ball against CO. does not do well against .500 teams Glendora overrated, congrats to Bonita.
Where did they get those umpires from at the Glendora vs Bonita softball game! I guess you get the good with the bad, but that guy behind the plate (stood about 4'10") must have been Bonita's #1 fan.
I have no problem if a blue has a generous strikezone IF he is CONSISTENT on both sides of the fence.
Oh well, you get the good with the bad and no doubt Bonita Pitcher was definitely on but she had a little help on those 3rd strike calls.
great job bonita.
one question....saw in the paper saturday that west covina lost to nogales 2-1 this past friday. how does that happen? nogales with a 1-17 record. is this a typo? i have yet to see the game on maxpreps.
Way to go ladies! Awesome pitching, strong defense and timely hitting!!
Bonita 5
Glendora 0
Bonita won. not sure of score.
Glendora has the pitching and the defense. Steady offense hitters will keep this game going.
not real erors. yur new pitcher gave up hits and glendora max'd on the weak defence. the better team won.
spoken like a true sports writer!
I hope that both teams send out their best pitchers ..
This could turn out to be one of the best games of the season. The last time these two teams met both pitchers were rattled at times and it was a nerve racking performance needless to say. Tonight’s game will be interesting to see who steps on the mound first for both teams. I'm expecting a more settled game with a sac bunt and a clutch hit determining the winner. My guess with league race implications the rest of the week a combo of pitching might be in store. Both teams strung out 7 or 8 hits in the last meeting but the clear difference in the game was coaching Reese 3 Carlson 0 after tonight.
Not going to happen. Bonita does not win these type of statement games. That won't change today.
Glendora almost did not make today's game, SH stud soph. catcher Britney Rodriguez was put in to start and pitch vs Tartans, 3 errors cost her the win, and she did not serve up any cookies. I heard that was the 1st time she pitch in 3yrs. I guess SH found another pitcher. Bonita should in today.