El Camino Overcomes NorCal No. 1 San Mateo late, moves on to face host Mt. San Antonio in next round
Walnut, CA - El Camino College, making their first ever California Community College Athletic Association State Softball Championships appearance, used a late rally to overcome Northern California No. 1 College of San Mateo in the opening round on Thursday afternoon. The Warriors (SoCal No. 4) scored four of their five runs in the top of the fifth and sixth innings, to advance through the winners bracket.
The Bulldogs (39-5) got things started in the bottom of the first inning when a pair of lead-off singles by sophomore pitcher Lauren Quirke and sophomore left fielder Allie Stines led to a two-RBI double to left off the bat of sophomore catcher Mackenzie Driscoll that made it 2-0.
El Camino (36-10) would come back in the top of the second, to halve their deficit when they got an RBI groundout by sophomore right fielder Jasmine Krauss that plated freshman DP Kassidy Robinson. The two schools would trade empty innings, until San Mateo added a score in the bottom of the fourth on an RBI single to center field by freshman short stop Leaness Donn. The Bulldogs may have had a chance to add on to the lead, but they ran themselves out of the inning, finishing the fourth with a 3-1 advantage.
In the top of the fifth, the Warriors would have their moment. It all started with a two-out bases loaded RBI pinch hit walk by freshman Helaina Gallardo. A few pitches later freshman Kassidy Robinson hit a two-RBI single that gave the Warriors their first lead of the day 4-3. In the top of the sixth, El Camino added an insurance score when sophomore Annie Adamos hit an RBI groundout to short that plated sophomore Alyssa Wing and made it 5-3.
That run would prove to be crucial as San Mateo would scratch out a score in the bottom of the sixth. Sophomore Madeline Morris would pull the Bulldogs to within a run when she hit an RBI single back up the middle of the field that brought in freshman Aubrie Businger that made it 4-5. In the top of the seventh, San Mateo freshman Emily McAdams would surrender a two-out single, but was never really threatened as she struck out the side.
The Bulldogs would make things interesting in the bottom of the seventh. Sophomore Lauren Quirke would stroke a one-out single to left field. Sophomore Gabriella Zuchiatti would follow that up with a single through the right side of the field, putting runners on first and second. After a pop-up, San Mateo would get a second chance when an error by the Warriors loaded up the bases with two outs. The Bulldogs couldn't pull through though as El Camino freshman pitcher Maisie Weishoff got a infield pop-up to end the threat.
Weishoff (15-7) would earn the win, pitching four strong innings, giving up just one run and striking out two batters. Sophomore Karla Calderon went 2-for-3 at the dish for the Warriors as did Wing. For San Mateo, Stines went 3-for-4.
El Camino advances through the winner's side of the bracket and will take on South Coast Conference and this weekend's host Mt. San Antonio College tomorrow at 11:00 AM. San Mateo drops into the elimination bracket and will take on Coast Conference rival Ohlone College at 1:30 PM at Citrus College.