St. Paul starting pitcher Emilee Leonard (23) throws against Bishop Amat in the first inning of a prep softball game at Bishop Amat High School in La Puente, Calif., on Wednesday, April, 20, 2016. Bishop Amat won 1-0. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/ Pasadena Star-News)
SOFTBALL
DEL REY LEAGUE
BISIOP AMAT 1, ST. PAUL 0
LA PUENTE — Bishop Amat High School, after a rain-out and two failed attempts for make-up dates, finally got on the field with rival St. Paul on Wednesday, and it was worth the wait for the Lancers.Samaria Diaz tossed a three-hit shutout and Maddie Ramirez went 2 for 3 with the only RBI to lead host Bishop Amat to a 1-0 victory over rival St. Paul in a Del Rey League softball game.
Julie Menrad also had two hits for the Lancers, who improved to 16-2 overall and 6-0 in league play. Emilee Leonard gave up seven hits and struck out four for the Swordsmen, who slipped to 13-7 and 4-2.
Bishop Amat, which stranded a runners in scoring position in the second and fourth innings, finally broke through in the fifth. Bryanna Perez and Sofia Saucedo led off with consecutive singles. Ramirez then singled to center field with two outs to score Perez for a 1-0 lead.
SAFE OR OUT?:
St. Paul had a chance to tie it in the sixth. Jaclyn Candelas singled with two outs and Tatum Anzaldo was then hit by a pitch. Samantha Rivas followed with a single to center field.
Candelas tried to advance home, but pulled up and was trapped in a run-down. She then tried to avoid the tag from Diaz at the plate and was called out to end the inning.
Bishop Amat coach Kristen Dedmon: “Of course, there is a little extra incentive to beat St. Paul, because the history of the rivalry. I think ultimately, they (the Amat players) came out here ready to play. It doesn’t really matter who is in the other dugout, my girls come out ready to play. It was really great to see them bring it all together.”
St. Paul coach Dena Slye: “I feel in softball you have to take your chances. We have no instant replay, but I don’t know if the tag was made. But I’m proud of my girls. We fought, and we still have two more games (vs. Bishop Amat). I tell them all the time the first game is like a feel game. We just have to win the next two. The goal of the year is to win the series.”
Bishop Amat’s Maddie Ramirez: “When I went up there, I wasn’t over thinking,” Ramirez said. “I knew there was a runner in scoring position, so I knew I had to do my job and bring her in.”
— Stephen Ramirez
SUBURBAN LEAGUE
LA MIRADA 11, ARTESIA 1
LA MIRADA — After a tough nonleague schedule, the La Mirada High School softball team is off and running in the Suburban League.The Matadores, who have their best chance at a league title in some time, upped their record to 12-8 overall, 6-1 in league Wednesday afternoon with an 11-1 win over Artesia in a game called in the fifth inning due to the 10-run rule.
It was only fitting that speedster Nicole Barrow (3 for 4 with an RBI and three runs) scored the run that ended the game. The senior center fielder was the seventh run of the fifth inning.
La Mirada coach Brent Tuttle: “We’re hitting very well right now with the 1-2 punch of Marissa (Velez) and (Barrow), and Jessica (Martinez) looked good striking out their batters. I also like the fact that (Martinez) is very aggressive on the mound.”
La Mirada’s Nicole Barrow: “I’m definitely confident in the team and when we get our bats hot, we’ll do just fine. This is the most successful team in my four years here and we’re coming together as a unit at the right time.”
