San Dimas Softball Tournament
Friday’s semifinal results
Bishop Amat 8, Charter Oak 0
La Canada 11, Northview 7, 8 innings
Saturday’s championship
Bishop Amat 7, La Canada 0
By John Honell
Sabrina Anguiano was almost perfect in pitching the Bishop Amat softball team to the championship of the San Dimas Tournament on Saturday with a 7-0 win over La Canada.
Anguiano allowed only one runner to reach base – Kelsey Drange, who walked in the fourth inning.
The senior, in addition to throwing a no-hitter, had two one-hitters and a two-hitter and didn’t allow a run in the tournament as she was a unanimous choice for MVP.
Amat scored all of its runs in the bottom of the sixth inning against the defending tournament champion Spartans.
“I wasn’t even thinking about (a no-hitter),” Anguiano said. “Those things just come as you play. My focus was just to get the win and my teammates backed me up, so I’m just thankful for a team like that.”
The Lancers had the leadoff batter on base in four of the first five innings but couldn’t solve La Canada starter Maddy MacKenzie.
“Maddy did a phenomenal job,” Spartans coach K.C. Mathews said. “She changed speeds and locations on them all game long but, if you give a team like that four, five outs in an inning, they’ll make you pay for it. We only had one runner and you’re not going to win many games like that.”
The Lancers broke through in the bottom of the sixth when their patience at the plate finally paid off.
They had only two hits but took advantage of five walks, a hit batter, an error and a wild pitch to put the game away.
“It was a little frustrating (getting the leadoff batter on base),” Lancers coach Jesse Mendez said. “But we hit the ball hard right at people and sometimes that happens. We were a little anxious at the plate but their pitcher did a good job. Her changeup had us off-balance and got us to swing at pitches a little out of the strike zone.”
Amanda Sanchez got the Lancers going with a one-out walk. Victoria Saucedo followed with another walk and Brandy Galaviz singled off the tip of the shortstop’s glove to load the bases.
Larissa Munoz walked to drive in the first run and Julia Valenzuela followed with an RBI single to put the game out of reach.
Sanchez reached base four times on three walks and a hit by pitch. Galaviz and Valenzuela each had two hits for the Lancers.
“Sabrina was the key,” Mendez said. “She had a great tournament. But our defense was very good. Our big hitters didn’t get the hits they usually get but they just have to learn to stay patient.”
The Lancers also threatened in the bottom of the fifth when they loaded the bases with no outs.
Galaviz led off the inning with a single. Munoz reached base on an error and Valenzuela loaded the bases with an infield hit.
MacKenzie then got her first strikeout and a pair of soft lineouts to get out of the jam.
Olivia Leyva and MacKenzie were named to the all-tournament team for the Spartans.
Catcher Lexi Gonzalez and first baseman Amanda Sanchez also received all-tournament honors for Bishop Amat.
