Super Saturday sends three to semis
EL CENTRO — Janyssa Martin delivered arguably the best performance of her young career as she led the Central Union High softball team 2-1 over Helix in a second-round CIF-San Diego Section Div. III matchup at Emma Jones Field here on Saturday morning.
The sophomore hurler threw a complete-game one hitter with eight strikeouts for Central and at the plate finished 2-4 with the game-winning walk-off single, pushing the Spartans to next week’s Div. III semifinal.
“I felt I could’ve done better, but I’m just glad that we got the victory and are able to move on to the next round,” Martin said after the game.
The Spartans went into the contest as the No. 2 seed, while the Helix Highlanders came in as the No. 11 team.
Central was coming off an 8-1 win on Thursday over La Jolla Country Day, yet found themselves in a different scenario against Helix as the contest was an intense pitching battle from the start of the game. Martin found herself in a gutsy battle against Helix’s Zoe Kuhlken, who scattered five hits in the contest.
The Spartans were able to get the first run on the board in the bottom of the second inning after Mia Perez connected on the ground to second base, driving in Aleah Cardenas for the first run of the game. Going into the top of the fifth inning, Martin allowed the only run for the Highlanders off a single up the middle by McKenzie Flores that brought in Avery Perez.
The game then remained tied at one run apiece going into the bottom of the seventh inning.
Central started its rally early after Cayla Contreras and Viviana Morales reached base safely on singles, while Mia reached first on a fielder’s choice that ultimately loaded the bases for Spartans with no outs.
Martin then took care of the rest, connecting for a shot over the third baseman that brought in pinch-runner Annika Garcia for the walk-off, game-winning run.
With the win, Central advances to the Div. III semis, which will be held at Sportsplex USA, Poway on Thursday.
The Spartans will face a more than familiar foe in that game as they’ll take on cross-town rival Southwest High, with the first pitch set for 4:15 p.m.