Carson softball can’t keep up with Kennedy in City Section Open Division semifinal
CARSON >>After examining its loss to Carson earlier in the season, Kennedy coach Christian Carbajal told her softball lineup to be aggressive Tuesday.
The Cougars hitters followed through and now they are on their way to the CIF City Section Open Division championship game.
Seventh-seeded Kennedy pounded out 13 hits, including four home runs, and cruised to a 9-3 semifinal victory over sixth-seeded Cars.on.
The Cougars (23-5) will face top-seeded El Camino Real in Saturday’s title game at CS Northridge
“We’re not done yet,” said Alondra Dominguez, who had a game-high three hits, including a first-inning two-run homer, and scored twice.
“In these games, we have to get that (early) lead for our pitcher. I think it’s important for us as hitters to hop on first.”
Eight of Kennedy’s nine batters recorded at least one hit. Jayleen Piedra led off the fourth and fifth innings with solo homers.
The Colts (18-11) found themselves down 3-0 before recording the game’s first out.
Carson pitcher Kathryn Gutierrez’s first pitch was drilled by Katelyn Garcia for a solo shot to left-center field. After Trinity Jones reached on a walk, Dominguez homered to straightaway center on a pitch early in the count.
Carbajal said the team remembered its 4-2 loss against Carson in late April and wanted to redeem itself.
“That was very crucial,” Carbajal said of her team’s early offense. “That set the momentum for the rest of the game. We wanted to make the pitcher work, but we weren’t going to let those good pitches go by us. If you see it and you like it, capitalize. Don’t wait.”
Kennedy broke the game open with a five-run fourth inning and batted around against reliever Jazel Lopez.
Four batters after Piedra’s first homer, an error in right field allowed Kiara Martinez to score and extend the lead to 5-0.
Jones tacked on an RBI single and Jennifer Rodriguez added a two-run single to push the lead to 8-0.
Cougars pitcher Maya Ramirez was in control from the start and tossed a complete game. She allowed seven hits, struck out four and walked three.
Ramirez was most proud about keeping her focus through to the finish, as opposed to her last start against Carson.
“In the last game, I just got tired in the seventh inning and I just gave up,” Ramirez said. “This time, I just pushed through all the way.”
Carson got run-scoring doubles from Mia Ochoa and Priscilla Villarreal in consecutive innings to pull within 9-3 after five innings.
The Colts were without two starters, including ace pitcher Giselle Pantoja (breathing issues) and coach Rudy Aguirre knew it would be a challenge from the start.
“I’m proud of my kids,” Aguirre said. “They fought back and they kept fighting. It would’ve been easy for them to just mail it in down 9-0. I take my hat off to (Kennedy), they came out swinging.”
Given the injuries, Aguirre added that Carson would decline, if invited, to CIF Regionals.