The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Weber, Western Christian get rare shutout of Aquinas
SAN BERNARDINO » Amelia Weber was dialed in the moment she stepped inside the circle.
Weber, a senior who has signed with Howard University, used her array of pitches to fire a two-hitter to lead Western Christian to a 3-0 win over Aquinas in an Ambassador League game Thursday afternoon.
It marked the first time Aquinas failed to score in Ambassador League play in 89 games. The previous pitcher to record a shutout against the Falcons in a league game was Ontario Christian’s Areana Ramos on May 9, 2014.
“Amelia is the toughest athlete I’ve worked with,” Western Christian coach Edward Wood said. “She just came from her grandmother’s funeral earlier today, but she was able to get her mind to a place to pitch a great game today.
“She has a gear that you just can’t coach. It’s a competitive fire deep inside her.”
Weber was tagged for 11 runs and 13 hits in four innings in the first meeting with Aquinas last season. She came back a month later and threw a five-hitter in a 3-1 win to help her team secure a share of the league title. Weber took it to another level Thursday, retiring 19 of the first 21 batters she faced.
“I’ve just learned that speed is not everything. I needed to focus more on my spins and location,” Weber said of her approach against Aquinas the past two meetings.
“I have to give credit to my catcher Brooklyn (Lee). ... She calls a great game, and we just have an understanding and connection out there.”
Western Christian (104, 4-0 in league) grabbed a lead in the second inning. Lee reached base on an error to start the inning and later scored when Mia Albitre was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
Aquinas sophomore Mia Castillo was strong in the circle and carried a twohitter into the fifth inning.
Western Christian added a pair of insurance runs by stringing together four consecutive singles with one out in the fifth inning. Lee knocked in the first run of the inning, and Weber followed with another RBI.
“I think getting those extra runs was important and gave her (Weber) even more confidence,” Lee said.
Aquinas (14-5, 3-1) tried to rally in the bottom of the seventh inning, but Western Christian’s defense made a couple of great plays to quell the threat.
C.J. Aguilar made a running catch in right field to take extra bases away from Jaeya Butler. That play became even more important when Elleana Navarro roped a double to right field with one out. Weber then issued her only walk to bring the tying run to the plate.
Weber got Karyme Amaya to hit a ball back to the circle. The ball glanced off Weber’s glove but ricocheted to third baseman Marilyn Beauvais, who threw to first for the second out. Weber ended the game with her seventh strikeout.
“We’re a young team and didn’t have a lot of discipline or patience today,” Aquinas coach Chris Ybarra said. “That’s not to take anything away from her (Weber), but we need to be able to make those adjustments at the plate.”
Castillo allowed two earned runs and six hits while striking out six batters.
Western Christian will host Aquinas in the second league meeting April 19.