EL SEGUNDO - In the final regular season tournament for Port Of Los Angeles High softball, it was one last chance at a trophy to take to their campus in Downtown San Pedro.
The Polar Bears were not able to capture the tournament title, but they still will come home with a trophy.
Behind a late spirited comeback, POLA rallied to defeat Redondo Union, 4-3 to claim third place of the El Segundo Tournament Saturday night at Recreation Park. The game only lasted six innings due to the tourney's one-hour, 45-minute time limit. Sophomore second baseman Rosemary Garcia scored the winning run off a fielding error by Redondo junior shortstop Taleigh Williams with two outs in the bottom of the sixth.
In the Polar Bears' first game, their 11-game winning streak came to a crashing halt with a 6-0 loss to Agoura, who ended up winning the El Segundo Tournament hours later with a 9-4 win over El Segundo.
POLA (22-8 overall) found themselves trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the fourth inning, but freshman designated player Emily Ibarra's single, followed by a double down the left field line by sophomore pitcher Nicolle Miranda put runners on second and third with nobody out. Two batters later, Garcia's sacrifice fly plated Ibarra to put the Polar Bears on the board.
Miranda's two-run double to left-center field with two outs that brought in Ibarra and sophomore third baseman Briana Valencia tied the game at 3-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Garcia led off with a single, then was moved to second with a one-out infield single from sophomore left fielder Tiffany Torres. Valencia struck out, but then a ground ball smash from senior catcher Brianna Grayson seemed like an easy play for Redondo's Williams, but she bobbled the ball and it went into the outfield, allowing Garcia to score the winning run.
Despite surrendering three runs on eight hits, Miranda (16-8) still managed to earn the complete game victory with four strikeouts. Sophomore third baseman Morgan Moczygemba went 2-for-3 with a double, a triple and 2 RBIs for Redondo Union (13-12).
Ibarra, Torres and Grayson had the only three hits for POLA against Agoura in the semifinal defeat.
The Polar Bears will likely wrap up their third consecutive Crosstown League title with two road games against Rancho Dominguez Prep of Long Beach on Monday, and Bright Star of Los Angeles on Wednesday to close out the regular season.
The SanPedroNewsPilot.com is the social network and information outlet for San Pedro.
Want to keep up with the news in San Pedro, become a member.
Membership has its privileges!
• Got news you think everyone should know? Blog it.
• Have a show or attending a benefit? Put it on the calendar.
• Got video of the big game? Embed it.
• Photos of the new storefront or the school play? Upload them.
© 2024 Created by San Pedro News Pilot. Powered by
You need to be a member of San Pedro News Pilot to add comments!
Join San Pedro News Pilot