Huss-Cochran’s home run lifts Beaumont over Cajon
BEAUMONT >> Keali Huss-Cochran spoiled some of the best offerings by Cajon senior pitcher Jada Villegas.
And then on the ninth pitch of the at-bat in the sixth inning, Beaumont’s junior shortstop got her timing just right.
Huss-Cochran lined a threerun home run over the fence in center field, helping the Cougars rally for a 3-2 victory and grab sole possession of first place in the Citrus Belt League.
Cambria Salmon allowed six hits and struck out 11 to earn the 57th win of her career. Villegas tossed a four-hitter in a tough loss.
Runs were expected to be at a premium with the two senior college-bound aces inside the circle. Salmon (Texas) and Villegas (BYU) squared off four times between the 2022 and 2023 seasons, and one run was enough to win each of those games. Villegas won the initial showdown, throwing a shutout in a 1-0 win. Salmon tossed shutouts as Beaumont won the next three games 2-0, 1-0, and 2-0.
Cajon (8-8-1, 3-1) got on the scoreboard first Wednesday afternoon, as shortstop Ci’Ella Pickett launched a towering solo home run to left field with two outs in the third inning. It was Pickett’s second homer of the year.
The Cowgirls doubled the lead in the fifth inning, as Salina Guzman
put down a squeeze bunt to score Nadine Corona. Cajon nearly put another run on the scoreboard in that frame. Pickett tried for an inside-the-park homer but got caught in a rundown. Pickett’s hand appeared to reach the plate just before the tag was applied by Salmon, but the plate umpire gave the out call to end the inning. Cajon coach Lee Haines argued for an obstruction call to no avail.
Villegas allowed two singles in the first inning, but she had retired 13 consecutive batters when the sixth inning started. Sariah James drew a walk for Beaumont (12-5, 4-0) to lead off the sixth, and Jayde Pagdilao reached on an error with one out. Huss-Cochran fouled off six pitches before connecting on the blast that put the Cougars ahead.
“It was a feeling of relief more than anything else,” Huss-Cochran said. “The only thing I was really thinking about up there was putting the ball in play. I didn’t want anything low. I wanted to keep my hands high, so I could drive the ball.”
Salmon had to work out of a tight spot in the bottom half of the sixth. Nadine Juarez singled with one out, and Cajon had runners at second and third with two outs after Hope Morales reached on an error. But Salmon ended the threat with her ninth strikeout. Salmon retired the side in order in the seventh, with the first and last outs being strikeouts.
“It was another close game with them. And now we have the lead, and the pressure was now back on me to hold it,” Salmon said. “If someone gets on, anything can happen. I tried to keep the ball down and make sure nothing got up in the air.”
Pickett, who went 3 for 3 (and a double shy of the cycle), was standing in the on-deck circle when the game ended.
“She was all over to me today,” Salmon said about Pickett. “I probably would have walked her if she came up to hit again.”0
The victory marked one of the rare times Beaumont has been able to overcome a deficit this season.
“They showed some grit to come back after falling behind,” Cougars coach Frankie Fuimaono said. “Keali had a great at-bat to give us the lead. And when Cam has a lead, she’s like a shark in the water who smells blood. She is going to lock things down.”
Cajon was the designated home team Wednesday, but the game was played at Beaumont because Cajon’s field is under construction. The two CBL title contenders will square off in the regular season final April 24 at Beaumont.
Beaumont first baseman Alysha Kendrick registered two of the four hits allowed by Villegas.