With La Serna knocking out Glendora (7-4), they will join Northview, Bonita and Charter Oak in Friday’s semifinals of the Charter Oak tournament at the Field of Dreams in West Covina. Northview advanced with a feel-good 3-2 win over South Hills — a mild surprise, and Bonita moved past San Dimas, 4-1. Charter Oak will meet La Serna and Bonita will face Northview in Friday’s semifinals at 3:30 p.m., with the winners advancing to Saturday’s championship.
By Fred J. Robledo
Glendora blows lead: Glendora high school pitcher Carly Argyle usually knows what to do late in games with a cushion, which made La Serna’s come-from-behind 7-4 victory in the final game of round robin play in the Charter Oak tournament on Wednesday at the Field of Dreams park in West Covina even more remarkable. (To continue click thread)
Lancers pitcher Jackie Valdez struggled early, but she dealt the game-winning blow, breaking a 4-4 tie with an inside-the-park three-run homer in the fifth that culminated a six-run inning after trailing 4-1.
After beating South El Monte in the opener, La Serna (5-1) advances to Friday’s semifinal against Charter Oak. In the other semifinal, Northview will square off against Bonita.
Northview edged South Hills 3-2 and Bonita beat San Dimas 4-1, improving both to 2-0 in the tournament. Both semifinal games Friday are at 3:30 p.m., and the championship on Saturday — all at the Field of Dreams facility.
Time virtually ran out on Glendora
After Valdez retired the side in the sixth inning, the game was called due to the time limit, leaving a huge smile on the face of Lancers coach Ginger Larsin.
“It was awesome, our second comeback of the season already,” Larsin said. “She (Argyle) pitched a great game. She threw a lot of off speed and fooled a lot of our batters. I think late in the game we kind of figured it out and put a solid inning together.
“But give (Valdez) a lot of credit, she helped herself with the big home run.”
Argyle was sailing along, allowing one hit through four innings, then gave up three consecutive one-out singles to load the bases in the bottom of the fifth.
After Argyle walked in a run, Red Pichardo’s single to left scored Danielle Garcielita and A.J. Carrasco to tie the score, 4-4. After a walk loaded the bases, Valdez belted a deep shot to right that she turned into three-run homer to completely change the momentum.
“It felt good,” Valdez said. “It’s always great when you win.”
Glendora’s Audrie Becerra was a triple short of a cycle, but it wasn’t enough to help the Tartans compete for a second straight title after winning the San Dimas tournament last week. Becerra was 3-for-3 and scored three times as the Tartans dropped to 7-2.
After Kendra Alfonso’s one-out walk, Becerra belted a shot to right that she ran out for an inside-the-park home run and 2-0 Tartans lead in the first inning.
Becerra followed her first-inning homer with a leadoff double in the fourth, and scored on Brandi Wilson’s liner to left for a 3-1 lead. It could have been much worse for the Lancers and pitcher Valdez, but Valdez got out of bases loaded, one-out jam with a strikeout and ground out to end the inning.
Becera and Wilson weren’t finished. After Becerra’s third hit, a two-out single in the fifth, Wilson doubled her home for a 4-1 lead.
“They battled,” Tartans coach Reese Mitchell said of La Serna. “We didn’t put the ball where we like and got hit (in the fifth). Give La Serna credit, it’s as simple as that.”
fred.robledo@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2161
