Temple City softball overcomes early deficit to beat Monrovia and notch 40th straight league win

Source: Whittier Daily News
Author: Fred Robledo

MONROVIA -- Teams don't usually have a lot of success against Temple City's senior pitcher Kassandra Gewecke, an Ohio State commit who two years ago led the Rams to a CIF Southern Section Division 4 title.

Monrovia used a couple of bunt singles and managed three hits in the first inning to score three runs to take a two-run lead, and for a short minute, thought it might be be able to rattle Gewecke and the Rams.

But the Rams haven't won three straight Rio Hondo League titles and looking for a fourth without more firepower in their arsenal, and that was on full display during a 10-6 victory and their 40th straight league win.

Rams catcher Samantha Womack doubled home two runs in the seventh inning and finished with two hits, five RBIs and scored three runs.

Rams leadoff hitter Sheridan Gonzalez had a hit and scored four times and Amaris Valenzuela had two hits and an RBI.

The Wildcats' Kate Nelson had a hit and scored three runs. Mischa Lue-Long had two hits and scored. Mikalah Ortega had two RBIs, but it all wasn't enough.

Womack and Gewecke have been on varsity since their freshman season, and down 3-1 after the first inning, they didn't panic.

"We go at them (opponents) hard every single game," Womack said. "We have the mindset we're not going to lose, we're going to win. There was a little bit (of nerves down 3-1), but I feel like we're a good team and we settled down. We knew we can do it, settle down, fluke innning, wash it and do what we do."

Gewecke gave up six hits of which three were bunts. She finished with seven strikeouts and only two runs were earned. She helped herself offensively with three hits and two RBIs.

Temple City improved to 7-1-1 and 4-0 while Monrovia fell to 7-6 and 2-1.

Rams coach Eric Arreola noted on a day when both teams were sloppy with four errors apiece, he thought they reponded well to the early adversity.

"Our offense kept us in it obviously," Arreola said of their 12-hit attack. "We played La Canada yesterday (8-1 win) and I was worried about the back-to-back. But we responded well after that inning (falling behind 3-1). Every time they seemed to get the momentum, we reponded. We can be a little cleaner on defense, but we will work on that."

The Rams' Valenzuela singled up the middle to score Womack for a 1-0 lead in the first.

The Wildcats responded with small ball to take the lead.

Lue-Lang bunted for a single and a throwing error put runners on second and third.

One out later, Natalie Huelster bunted home Nelson, and Ortega smacked a two-out single to right that scored two for a 3-1 lead.

But the Rams responded quickly in the third inning.

Womack singled home two runs and Gewecke kept it going with a single to left, scoring Womack for a 4-3 lead.

The Wildcats managed three runs in the seventh inning to tighen up the score, and though they didn't exactly light up Gewecke, they know on a day they push six runs across against such a talented team and pitcher is a missed opportunity.

"It was tough, we had a couple defefensive miscues and it changed the momentum of the game," Wildcats coach Marcel Mayorga said. "Kassandra's a great pictcher, but I think we hit the ball pretty well and executed the small things. But the miscues we had was the key factors for the score. We just have to keep on working, keep on grinding."

The Rams cushioned their lead after Womack drove in Gonzalez and Valenzuela's infield single scored another run for a 6-3 lead in the fourth inning.

Gonzalez scored from second on a ground out in the fifth inning with a sweet slide at home for a 7-3 lead.

After Gewecke threw three straight no-hit innings, the Rams got a couple hits in the bottom of the fifth, Nelson scored from third on throwing error to trim the lead to 7-4.