By Tom Connolly
WHITTIER – Jackie Valdez homered and Alendrina Pichardo had five RBI’s to spark the Blue team to an 11-5 comeback victory over the Red Team in the 10th annual Whittier Rotary Club All-Star softball game Wednesday afternoon at York Field.
Pichardo (La Serna) had three hits and her three-run triple in the sixth inning propelled the Blue Team to a 3-2 lead. Pichardo and Red Team’s Arianna Hernandez (Santa Fe) were named the game’s MVPs.
“It’s awesome to get the MVP,” said Pichardo. “I was so nervous when I came to bat. I didn’t want to pop out or strike out. I inhaled and exhaled to clear my mind and calmed myself down.”
Holding onto a one-run lead in the seventh inning the Blue team erupted for four runs.
Valdez came to bat in the seventh with two-outs and two-on. She drilled a smash down the first base line and then cruised around the bases for a three-run homer to give the Blue Team a 7-2 lead.
“It’s really cool to win an all star game; it’s the best,” said Valdez, who was the starting pitcher for the Blue Team.
The Blue Team coach Jackie Montanez-Ramirez was pleased with her team’s performance.
“I’m proud of both teams,” said Montanez-Ramirez. “Alendrina’s (Pichardo) hit in the sixth was the catalyst and then Jackie’s hit came with two outs when the game was still close. Her hit gave us more confidence and got the dugout a lot more excited.”
The Blue Team added another four runs in the eighth inning highlighted by RBI hits from Breana West (St. Paul) and AJ Carrasco (La Serna) and capped off by Pichardo’s two-run single.
Carrasco had an outstanding game as she had two hits and an RBI, scored two runs, had a stolen base and was on base three times. Jessica Rivera (Schurr High), Reina Bernal (Santa Fe), Shanin Thomas (La Habra) and Hernandez (Santa Fe) had two hits a piece for the and Blue Team.
The Red Team jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Hernandez singled with one out. One out later Thomas tripled to right center scoring Hernandez but Thomas was tagged out at home as she attempted to stretch her hit into a homerun.
Hernandez blasted a two-run in homer the eighth inning.
“It was really exciting to be part of this game,” said Hernandez. “All of the girls had such great attitudes and it was a great experience and even better to be an MVP.”
Thomas said the all-star experience was a special experience for her.
“It was cool playing with all of the girls from the area displaying their skills,” said Thomas, who plans to play at Michigan State next season.
The Red Team coach Randi Berg said to coach the all-star team was an honor.
“It was a heck of a game,” said Berg. “We saw some great talent and it’s all about the players. It’s an honor to coach in a game like this.”
Jaime Ramirez ((El Rancho) was the starting pitcher for the red Team and gave up only two hits and no runs over the first five innings.
