North hands West first Pioneer League defeat
Cheatham, Iboy help end Warriors' 11-game win streak
In a softball contest that featured 15 hits between rivals North and West Torrance, defense and base running played the biggest roles in the outcome.
The middle of the Saxons lineup, led by shortstop Makana Cheatham, powered them to a 3-1 victory over host West in a drama-filled battle.
Cheatham collected a pair of hits and an RBI to help the Saxons (11-71, 5-1) pull within a halfgame of the Warriors (16-4, 6-1) in the Pioneer League standings. The result also snapped West's 11-game win streak.
The teams will meet again April 24 at North in the regular-season finale.
While she admitted there was a hint of intimidation going into the contest, Cheatham said there was still a strong sense of belief throughout the Saxons.
“This is actually a big, big win, knowing they were undefeated,” said Cheatham, who finished 2 for 4 with a single and a double. “We knew we could pull through. We knew we could do what we normally do best. So it felt really good winning against them.”
West provided a bit of help, too.
After loading the bases for the second time in three innings, the Warriors broke through on center fielder Charlotte White's two-out single up the middle to score Bella Narez and cut North's lead to 3-1.
On the throw home, however, things got a bit wild.
Kamaile Ho and Jessica Hsu, who advanced to third and second, respectively, each took a wide turn as the ball briefly got away from North catcher Eliana Berumen. While Ho got back to third after a rundown, Hsu was then caught between second and third before Ho took off for home.
The play lasted long enough for North center fielder Julieta Roa to get involved and run down Ho for a tag between third and home to end the inning.
“I think we were just trying to do too much in that situation,” West coach Jason
Belcher said. “We talk about sticking to a game plan and I think we got a little too excited, and they executed the rundown the right way. It went from bad to worse and it goes that way sometimes.”
North coach Samantha Alvillar credited Berumen and Roa for the heads-up play.
“Oh my gosh, talk about a heart attack,” Alvillar said. “I didn't even realize the runner took the round that she did. So, the fact that my infield was on it and my catcher recognized it and wanted to do something about it, I was really proud of her for that.
“My center fielder flew in and got into the pickle. There was a job and she said, `Third-base line, I'm on it.'”
Ho and left fielder Kayla Vargas had two hits apiece to pace the Warriors.
Six of West's seven hits came after the third inning against North starting pitcher Kloie Iboy, who went the distance and struck out a pair to go with two walks and a hit batter.
Iboy allowed two singles and walked a batter — all with two outs — before getting White to pop out to third and end the only other West threat in the fourth.
“I think the key for our team, and one of the things I love about this group, is they stay dialed in,” Alvillar said. “They keep it simple, one play at a time, and they get the job done. … Their game doesn't change depending on the outs.
“(Iboy's) control, she has really great ball placement. She has a lot of pitches and they all work.”
The Saxons, who have won six of their last seven, jumped out to an early lead with a run in the first and two more in the third. Both rallies started with two outs.
After driving in the game's first run, Cheatham singled and scored on Nichole Orozco's RBI double.
“We had energy in the dugout and brought it onto the field,” Cheatham said of the quick start.
A passed ball, dropped third strike and miscue by the West catcher on a toss to nobody covering home instead of attempting to throw out the batter running to first resulted in a 3-0 lead.
“We got a little unlucky in the beginning,” Belcher said.
In other games Wednesday:
EL SEGUNDO 19, LAWNDALE 0 >> Six different players had at least two hits for the Eagles (9-7, 4-2) and six had at least two RBIs in the win. Sienna Mayer had two doubles. Hailey Wantz and Jacy Lindsay drove in three runs apiece. TORRANCE 12, SOUTH TORRANCE 0 >> Emma Hayashida pitched a no-hitter with eight strikeouts in the win for the Tartars (14-5-1, 4-2). Alesa Gonzalez had four hits and four RBIs, Madison Schepp had three hits and two RBIs, and Mazee Martinez had three hits and three RBIs.