Lugo strikes out career high 19: It may only be one game into league play, but South Hills High School softball pitcher Natalie Lugo is in midseason form.
The junior was in total command in the circle as she tied a career high with 19 strikeouts and flirted with a perfect game and no-hitter, before settling for a one-hitter, as the Huskies (11-7, 1-0) defeated host Glendora 2-0 in a Palomares League game Wednesday afternoon.
“They (Glendora) haven’t played in three weeks and I knew their timing would be a little off,” South Hills coach Brandon Gonzalez said. “With her (Lugo) throwing I knew they haven’t seen anything like that.”

Lugo, who has now accumulated almost twice the amount of strikeouts (150) as innings (82) pitched this season, struck out the first 10 Glendora batters in the game before allowing the first base runner to reach.
Lugo (8-5) pitched carefully to Arizona State-bound senior Glendora shortstop Randi Farricker and walked her on five pitches. Farricker has hit seven home runs this season for the Tartans (11-2, 0-2).
“I just focused on hitting my spots because my pitches weren’t really moving (Wednesday),” said Lugo, who has committed to the University of Florida.
“I don’t think I’ve ever started the game with 12 strikeouts in a row, but it has been my goal to go through the lineup once with all strikeouts. That’s just a goal I have set for myself.
“I think I want to get 20 (strikeouts) next time.”
After the walk, Lugo struck out the next two batters to enter the fifth inning with a no-hitter.
Glendora senior designated player Emilee Cain was the first batter to even hit the ball in fair territory. Cain flied out to South Hills center fielder Christie Aguilar to open the inning and one batter later Tartans sophomore first baseman Nadine Garcia hit a solid line drive to left to break up the no-hitter.
“I really wanted this win because they are our league rival and they were ranked above us,” Lugo said.
After the single, Lugo retired the final eight batters, seven on strikeouts. She struck out the side to end the game,
Not to be outdone in the circle was Glendora senior pitcher Cambria Keefer who allowed only four hits and struck out five.
“She (Keefer) did awesome and battled through some issues in the first inning and didn’t get rattled the rest of the way,” Glendora coach Michael Quiroz said.
“Natalie Lugo is great and she went after us.”
South Hills scored its only two runs in the first inning on only one hit. Freshman left fielder Salina Munoz led off the game with a single to right center and was sacrificed to second by Aguilar.
Munoz was wild pitched to third and home for the 1-0 lead.
The second run was scored by pinch runner Quinn DeAvila, who ran for catcher Melysia Ortega, who walked. DeAvila went to second after an infield out, was wild pitched to third and came home on an illegal pitch by Keefer for the 2-0 lead.