Softball: CdM drops it in the seventh inning

Joseph Boo

CORONA DEL MAR - Corona del Mar High’s softball team was two outs

from moving into a three-way tie for second place in the Pacific Coast

League.

But visiting University scored twice in the top of the seventh and

retired CdM in order for a 2-1 PCL victory on Monday. With the win, the

Trojans claimed the second automatic CIF Southern Section playoff spot

from the PCL, leaving one left for two teams.

Those two would be the Sea Kings (7-10, 4-5 in league), which dropped to

fourth place with the loss, and third-place Costa Mesa. Conveniently

enough, both teams meet Wednesday. If CdM beats the Mustangs, it would

force a one-game playoff Friday for the final CIF automatic spot.

“I’ll tell the girls it’s either banquet time or play time,” CdM Coach

Terry Christiano said.

For six innings, the Sea Kings held a precarious 1-0 lead over Uni (8-16,

6-3). CdM’s freshman pitcher Alissa Zoelle was dominant on the mound,

giving up a mere two singles in the first six innings.

Zoelle gave herself the lead in the first inning with an RBI double that

drove in Amy Tyson. A strong throw beat Tyson to the plate, but she

knocked the ball out of Uni catcher Kelli Watkins’ glove. Zoelle advanced

to third on that play, but she did not score.

After that run, Uni pitcher Tiffany Waldman only gave up three hits. CdM

had two runners with no outs on in the second when Megan Curry singled

and Jessica Lindseth reached on an error. But Waldman got out of that

jam. Zoelle tripled in the fifth with two outs, but she was left there

again. Meaghan Bunney’s single in the sixth was CdM’s only other hit.

The Trojans had a looming threat in the sixth when they had runners on

first and second with one out and their third and fourth hitters coming

up. With a full count, Zoelle induced a weak comeback chopper and she

threw the runner out at third. Uni’s cleanup hitter then grounded out to

second baseman Lauren Loe for the final out.

But in the seventh, a CdM error gave Uni another chance with two runners

on and one out. This time, two wild pitches tied the game. The Trojans’

Niaz Ghassemi then laid down a sacrifice bunt to bring in the winning

unearned run, giving Uni a playoff spot and knocking CdM down to one last

chance on Wednesday.

PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE

University 2, Corona del Mar 1

University 000 000 2 - 2 3 1

Corona del Mar 100 000 0 - 1 4 1

Waldman and Watkins; Zoelle and Tyson. W - Waldman, 8-16. L - Zoelle,

6-3. 2B - Zoelle (CdM). 3B - Zoelle (CdM).