BAD NEWS DEJA VU FOR VERDUGO HILLS : SOUTH GATE 2, VERDUGO HILLS 1.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer Coach Gary Cordray of South Gate High hinted beforehand that his softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' squad's City Section 3-A semifinal against Verdugo Hills might turn out just like last year. Unfortunately for Verdugo Hills, Cordray was right. Verdugo Hills' season ended in a teary 2-1 loss - same score as 1997's semifinal setback - on the same field at South Gate Park on Wednesday. And unearned runs were again the difference. Verdugo Hills third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Jessica Mendoza Jessica Mendoza (born 11 November 1980) is an American softball player who won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics. She was a four-time first team All-American at Stanford University from 1999-2002. Mendoza was named Softball player of the year in 2006. and first baseman Sarah Giaro committed key late-inning errors, and the Dons could not pick up the slack. Candice Esquivel pitched South Gate (16-3) to the City finals, yielding four hits for her 13th win in 14 decisions. Esquivel allowed just one runner past first base through the first six innings before Verdugo Hills (21-6) pushed across an inconsequential in·con·se·quen·tial adj. 1. Lacking importance. 2. Not following from premises or evidence; illogical. n. A triviality. run in the last frame. ``My big hitters didn't come through, but (Esquivel) pitched a very good game,'' said Verdugo Hills coach Andrea Standley. ``It's a game of inches, and unfortunately we gave up two unearned runs. Against South Gate, you must play clean ball.'' Caroline Rangel scored South Gate's first run when freshman Lombardo mishandled catcher Nikki Shaw's throw in the fifth inning. Belinda Vargas added a run an inning later when she doubled, then scored from second on Patty Espinosa's sacrifice coupled with first baseman Giaro's errant throw. Verdugo's last chance saw Lombardo double, then score on Shaw's single to make it 2-1. But Shaw was stranded when Jeanise Smith flied out to left and pitcher Kim Wood grounded to third for the final out. Wood (20-5) gave up seven hits and no walks with three strikeouts. ``We played our hearts out,'' Wood said. ``It's tough because I wish we could have made the finals.'' Sophomore Vargas, who made All-City as a freshman, was 2 for 3 and just missed a perfect day at the plate when Verdugo right fielder right fielder n. Baseball The player who defends right field. Noun 1. right fielder - the person who plays right field outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield Rhianna Slimak made a circus catch to rob her of a third-inning extra-base hit ex·tra-base hit n. Baseball A double, a triple, or a home run. . Vargas also contributed seven put-outs. Defending 3-A champion South Gate, which returns seven starters, has won seven Section titles since 1984. The Rams will face San Pedro (a 3-0 winner of Carson in the other semifinal) Wednesday at UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX . |
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