The Mission Bay girls varsity softball team jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first two innings over the visiting Lady Vikings Friday, March 28.
Then with a couple big innings, La Jolla pushed back to take a 2-run lead. But in the bottom of the last inning, an aggressive Lady Bucs rally produced three runs and a dramatic 8-7 victory.
“What a great job, I’m very proud,” said first-year head softball coach Danny Pamaran. “They didn’t fold when they were down by 2 (runs). They stayed in it and proved to them they could play ” they earned some respect today.”
Mission Bay produced 2 runs in the first and second innings. But La Jolla answered back and tied the game at 4-4. Then it was 5-5. When La Jolla scored 2 more runs in the sixth inning of the seven-inning game, it looked like a tough number for the Lady Buccaneers to overcome.
In the bottom of the seventh, senior team leader Roshana Lavery led off by beating out an infield single. After stealing second and third, Lavery scored on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Erin Planert. A great bunt single by Vickie Colon scored Mackenzie Morgan to tie, but when the La Jolla catcher threw to second to stop Colon’s attempt to advance, Xaivera Quintero scored from third for the winning run.
“That was amazing. What a relief to pull out a win,” Lavery said. “To come back and pull off the plays we needed to win was so exciting. It’s sweet to beat La Jolla.”
Lavery went 3-4, scored three times and stole five bases. The speedy senior center fielder has been noticed ” she accepted a scholarship last month to play softball for the SDSU Lady Aztecs.
Freshman Morgan also went 3-3 while hitting her 4th home run of the season, scoring twice and earning 2 RBIs.
Senior Lydia Hargrove got the win to improve her pitching record to 2-0.
Other seniors on the Mission Bay squad include Brittani Starkey who has returned to second base after recovering from a foot injury, plus Deonna McIntyre and Ruth Osuna, for a total of seven seniors.
Mission Bay will travel to Coronado Friday, April 4, then return home to host Point Loma April 9 at 3 p.m. Western League play continues through May 9.
“They are a good group of girls. We’ve overcome some injuries and we’re starting to have some fun now,” Pamaran said.