Quick Hits:
- A big game with big league implications. It was a game featuring the two best offenses in the league but this one was dictated by defense. The Bears were able to pull it out 2-1 and creating a tie at the top of the standings.
- Warren entered this game seeking a little payback. In the first game, the Bears led 3-1 entering the fifth only to squander the lead in a 6-5 loss.
- All three runs in this game came in the first inning. Gahr got on the board first, keyed by an error in the Warren infield. Alyssa Cuffia scored her teammate at second with an screamer up center field for the 1-0 lead.
- After that RBI single, Warren responded in kind with an uppercut. Alyssa Hanks and Ashley Machado got on base via a walk and a single to lead things off. After a ground out, senior captain Neddie Gutierrez smashed a RBI double to right center scoring two runs. And that would be the final runs of the contest.
- In all four of freshman Alyssa Kumiyama’s at bats, she was hit by a pitch. Although, one she did not get to take a base as the umpire felt she was leaning into the pitch. Getting hit four time and she looked a little upset.
- Both pitchers in this game, Warren’s Courtney Sheldon and Gahr’s Destiny Vasquez, were great. Sheldon registered 11 Ks, while Vasquez had three but kept the runs at bay.
- While the pitchers were great, they were bolstered by some great defensive play. Warren gets the nod because of Taylor Gallo. The shortstop had a costly error in the first inning that helped bring in that run, but she bounced back in a huge way. She made two diving catches and she started a critical double play, capitalizing on a base running error. She also made a great jump on the ball to help get the first out of the seventh inning. MVP of the defense on Thursday.
- Gahr had some great defensive moments as well, but they were sunk by two big base running errors in the fourth and fifth. In the fourth, the runner at second came too far off the bag on a pop fly. Gallo exploited it and got the double play. In the fifth, Sheldon struck out a runner (looked like there was confusion if it was a dropped third strike) but catcher Wendy De Leon reacted and threw to second to get the base runner again that came too far off.
- The seventh was an interesting one as Warren had to go to the brink to get this win. Gallo made a great play to get the 6-3 ground out for the first out, but a single and another hit batter put the runners in scoring position. Celeste Gonzalez made contact on a short bloop, but Sheldon could not grip it in time to make a play at first giving Gahr bases loaded with one out.
- From there Sheldon got Cuffia to pop straight up and De Leon made a great dive to make the second out. Sheldon then forced another foul that Julianna Bravo caught to end the game.
- With the win Warren stays in the hunt for the league title. They have one a San Gabriel Valley League title every year since 2009.