San Pedro tops Banning in opener
When dealing with familiar league opponents, sometimes it's a matter of which team makes fewer mistakes.
That was the case Wednesday, as San Pedro pitcher Lilly Gonzalez allowed just one run over fiveplus innings and four different hitters collected two hits apiece in an 8-1 win over Banning in the opening round of the CIF L.A. City Section Open Division playoffs.
The Pirates (13-8) capitalized on four Pilots errors through the first three innings.
Maddy Fao, Katie Borges, LuLu De Leon and Marissa Markel each had two hits for fourth-seeded San Pedro, which advanced to Tuesday's semifinal round against topseeded El Camino Real.
Fao drove in three runs to pace the attack.
San Pedro coach Leanna Flores said she struggled with configuring her batting order all season, and it wasn't until six days ago in the Marine League finale against Carson when she just “went with my gut” and found the right combination.
“It's been working out pretty well,” Flores said, adding that the lineup's ability to turn extra outs into runs was “huge.”
“That probably gave them more confidence in themselves. My whole entire team has been in a slump this year with hitting and we've been working on it all week.”
Leading 1-0, the Pirates tacked on three more runs in the third thanks to three errors.
With runners on second and third, Banning (15-8) threw out a runner at the plate for the first out. However, Pilots center fielder Kali Sue then misplayed an RBI single by Fao, putting runners back on second and third.
“It was a little pressure on all of us, but we all knew that we could do it and we all had positive thoughts,” Fao said. “It was good for us to keep going because our pitcher needed a break.”
Markel then added her own RBI single, and the third run came across on an error by third baseman Tyler Lewis.
“The errors killed us,” said Pilots coach CaPree Williams, whose team split the regular-season series with the Pirates. “Our pitcher kept them off balance (and on the ground), it's just the defense.
“And then our bats didn't come through. We left a lot of runners on base.”
Banning had the appearance of threats in the second and third innings wiped out by double plays.
Gonzalez, who allowed just four hits but also walked four, said the defense behind her made the difference in settling in.
“I was a little tired but tried to push through,” she said. “They had my back the whole game, with hitting and defense.”
In the sixth, Banning put the first two batters on base to chase Gonzalez, and Xiomei Geluz's ensuing RBI single off reliever Layla Jelenic pulled the Pilots within 4-1.
Jelenic escaped the jam, getting a line drive out and a pair of strikeouts to end the inning. In her two innings, she finished with four strikeouts. Flores said Jelenic's addition to the pitching staff has been a boost after she missed the first month and a half with a wrist injury.
“At the beginning of the year, (Gonzalez) was our only pitcher,” Flores said. “(Jelenic) coming back off an injury, she's doing amazing. … Her and Lilly together are a great duo.”
San Pedro tacked on four more runs in the sixth, highlighted by Fao's two-run single, to pull away.
Banning's Mary Jane Zendejas took the loss, allowing eight runs (four earned) on 11 hits over 5 2/3 innings. CARSON 7, BIRMINGHAM 2 » The sixth-seeded Colts pulled off the upset, beating the third-seeded Patriots.
Alana Langford and Mia Ochoa had three hits apiece for Carson. Vai Paniani had two hits and two RBIs. Casey Miller also had two hits. Ochoa drove in two runs.
Kathryn Gonzalez went the distance, allowing two runs on five hits.
Carson will face No. 7 Kennedy in the semifinals Tuesday.