Torrance tops North in Pioneer showdown
TORRANCE » The Torrance softball team made the most of its at-bats Wednesday in a Pioneer League game against North.
The Tartars scored nine of their 10 runs with two outs as they defeated North 10-4.
Torrance improved to 20-4 overall and 9-0 in league. North dropped to 18-6, 7-2.
“I'm honestly so excited,” Torrance's Savanna Kastigar said. “I have been here all four years and we have never won the Pioneer League title and this is the year that it has all come together.”
Kastigar had two hits and drove in three runs.
In the top of the first inning, she came up with runners on first and second with two outs. She lined a 2-2 pitch over the head of North left fielder Nichole Orozco and Torrance scored two runs to take a 2-0 lead.
Kastigar later scored to make it 3-0 when Samantha Laurens lined a ball that was bobbled by a North player.
“After the first round (of league play), I knew she was going to try and pitch me outside, so when I saw that pitch I knew what I had to do,” Kastigar said of her hit in the first inning.
North scored a run in the bottom of the first inning on Priscilla Iniguez's double, but the Tartars answered in the top of the second inning with two outs.
Catcher Emily Schepp doubled to left-center to score Kaitlyn Wynia and Alesa Gonzalez to make it 5-1.
Later, Olivia Clavero, who was a courtesy runner for Schepp, stole third and scored when the catcher's throw went into left field. It was the third error of the game for North.
At that point, Torrance held a 6-1 lead.
North started to show some life offensively after falling behind 7-1. Juliet Roa doubled and scored on a wild pitch.
In the next inning, McKenzie Koshi reached second on a dropped fly ball and she later scored on a safety squeeze by Eliana Berumen that cut Torrance's lead to 7-3.
In the sixth inning, Kastigar again came through with two outs.
She slashed an opposite-field single to right that scored Wynia. Laurens followed with a single to drive in Clavero, giving Torrance a 9-3 lead.
“It was great to get a big lead early; it helped me relax and I just concentrated on making my pitches,” Torrance pitcher Emma Hayashida said.
“This game meant a lot to us. My defense really supported me and helped me get out of any trouble I got into.”
Hayashida picked up her 18th victory of the season.
North coach Samantha
Alvillar said her team has some work to do to bounce back from the loss.
“We just didn't have a good game today,” she said. “We made too many mistakes defensively and didn't get key hits when we needed to.
“The most important thing for us is how we are going to answer back. You learn so much more from losses like this. Now we have a clear path on how we can get better and prepare for the playoffs.” WEST TORRANCE 10, EL SEGUNDO 6 » Pitcher Audrey
Lopetegui struck out six, and Nanea Kyle had four hits, four stolen bases and drove in two runs for the Warriors (12-11, 6-4).
Rylee White and Raleigh Chung had three hits apiece.
Baseball
TORRANCE 12, WISEBURN DA VINCI 2 » Tommy Adair pitched a complete game and struck out seven to lead the Tartars (17-3, 7-1) to the Pioneer League victory.
Slater Nunez had three hits and three RBIs. Eshua
Desai had three hits, and Mateo Rickman drove in three runs.
SOUTH TORRANCE 3, EL SEGUNDO 2 » Tyler Steere hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning for the Spartans (167, 6-2).
James Broughton pitched a complete game. He allowed one earned run, three hits, two walks and struck out nine.
Caden Lewis tied the score at 2-2 with his twoout single that drove in a run in the bottom of the fifth.