Complete Game by Tate Bolsters Huskies to Win

by Cerwin D Haynes

With four games on the schedule this week, East Los Angeles College softball has a chance to get back to within a game of .500 and position themselves for a second-half run towards playoff contention.

The Huskies started the week Tuesday by taking care of the Santa Monica Corsairs, a team that started its season almost a month late. But today, the Pack's challenge was facing a Pasadena City College team that's just as hungry as they are to climb up the SCC standings. Making that challenge a bit more daunting was the fact that regular starting pitcher Serena Lopez was still being held out to rest her arm. Enter pitcher Lauren Tate, who's started the last four games for the Green.

The team turned the ball to her, and she ended up turning in a complete-game gem: seven innings of one-run ball, giving up only four hits with three strikeouts and no walks - the highlight of a Huskies 3-1 win over the Lancers.

ELAC scored first in the bottom of the third: Daejah Madera worked a leadoff walk off Lancers' starter Iliana Cardenas. She would advance to second on a passed ball before Nathalie Cordova ripped a double to left center, bring home Madera. Irene Dorado would follow by beating out an infield single to shortstop, putting runners on the corners. Tate, up next at the plate, helped her own cause via an RBI groundout to short.

Pasadena would get one back in the top of the sixth: with one out, Gizelle Leyva slapped a grounder to Dorado at SS, but Dorado's throw to first was wide of the bag, and Leyva was safe. Leadoff hitter Jaimie Harris followed by advancing Leyva to 2nd on a slow tapper in front of the plate fielded by C Arianna Cobian, who had little choice but to throw to first for the sure out. Priscilla Ortega was next up, and she slapped one up the middle for a base hit and RBI as Leyva scored from 2nd.

The Huskies responded by getting that run back: Dani Varela - first up - hit a slow roller back to the pitcher and beat the throw to first for the infield single. Irene Huizar then sacrified Varela to second via bunt, but when Lancer 1B Marcella Ordonez stepped on the bag, she realized Varela was halfway between 2nd and 3rd. Ortega threw to SS Leyva which began a rundown attempt, but when Leyva threw to third, the third baseman dropped the ball, allowing Varela to slide in safely at third. The next batter, Chasity Martinez, made PCC pay for the blunder by singling to right-center, scoring Varela.

In the top of the seventh, Tate hit leadoff batter Ordonez in the shoulder to allow the tying run to come to the plate. But the frosh product out of Santiago HS retired the next three batters to preserve the win.

HUSKY BITS:

• After some lineup shuffling the past few games, Irene Dorado returned to the top of the order and went 2-3.
• Tate, Martinez and Cordova each had a hit and an RBI.
• Pasadena's lineup included two former Huskies: 3B Priscilla Ortega and 2B Montserra Fukumoto both played for ELAC during the 2020 season that was cut short due to COVID.

UP NEXT:

The Huskies will host a three-way this Saturday with Ventura and Fullerton. ELAC will face the Pirates at 12pm and then the Hornets at 4pm. Ventura and Fullerton will play each other at 2pm.