Palomar Outlasts Everyone to Win 2000 Hyundai-California Softball Title

Posted on: May 17 2000 10:23AM

By Pamela Lewis

Long Beach Press-Telegram

FRESNO - Long Beach City College had enough chances to win a couple of double-elimination softball tournaments, if only the Vikings could have cashed in on those opportunities. Instead, the top ranked team in the state was left wondering what if.

That's because the breaks, and the credit, went Palomar's way Sunday (May 14). Coach Mark Eldridge's Comets won their third game of the day, scoring in the bottom of the seventh inning for a thrilling 1-0 triumph over Long Beach in the finals of the Hyundai-California Community College Softball Championships at Fresno State's Bulldog Diamond.

A chopper into left field by designated player Angela Blackman scored Martha Serrato from third with the game-winning run to give Palomar (48-7-1) its third state championship, the Comets' first since 1993. Long Beach finished 44-7.

Earlier in the day, the Comets pulled off a 2-1, 11-inning victory over the Vikings to avoid elimination and force the second game, handing Long Beach its first loss in the tournament.

Viking freshman hurler Nina Distefano (29-4), who pitched all 17 1/3 innings Sunday as well as all 21 innings in LBCC's first three wins, was outstanding. But while Long Beach's ace did her part, the hits would not manifest, which has been the case much of the season.

``They should have done it (won) the first game,'' Long Beach coach Shellie McCall said of her team's many chances. ``We had plenty of opportunities, but we didn't come through with the timely hits.''

Long Beach also had a great chance to score in the sixth inning of the decisive game with runners on second and third with one out. But Palomar pulled off a double play with pitcher Michelle Martinez (11-0) catching a pop-up — an intended bunt by Tara Drinkwater — and throwing Mayra Cisneros out at third.

``With runners at second and third with one out, it's our forte to put down a bunt,'' said McCall. ``It's an automatic squeeze play. We weren't hitting all day. We had no drive and to me its a matter of execution. We could not execute. Nina is what gave us a chance to win this tournament. We haven't hit the whole tournament.''

Serrato got the first extra base hit of the game when she led off the seventh with a double to right center field. Melissa Martinez moved Serrato to third on a sacrafice bunt and Blackmon, who had grounded out in her first two at-bats, sent the ball over the head of Viking shortstop Dara Webb to score Serrato.

Palomar's No. 2 pitcher, Martinez held Long Beach to three hits, striking out three and walking none, going the distance after Comet ace Jessica Jenkins ran out of gas after pitching 12 innings of their first two games on the final day. Martinez had relieved Jenkins in the 10th inning of game one to pick up the victory in that one as well.

Long Beach ran itself out of a couple of good opportunities in the first game Sunday against Palomar, allowing the Comets to force a decisive game after scoring an unearned run in the top of the 11th to go ahead 2-1. The Vikings also committed two errors in the third inning that led to the Comets' first run.

Long Beach's best opportunities came in the ninth and 10th innings, but the Comets, who committed four errors in Saturday's 3-1 loss to the Vikings, did the job defensively. In the ninth inning, Palomar cut down the go-ahead runner, Denise Perez, at third, and later caught Mayra Cisneros stealing third. With runners at the corners in the 10th inning, reliever Martinez got Sonia Rojo to pop up for the third out.

In Palomar's other game, the Comets broke a 2-2 tie with four runs in the sixth to defeat West Valley, 6-2, advancing to the first of two title games.

Long Beach was trying to win its first championship since 1995 without sophomore All-American shortstop Ami Harnett, who blew out her knee in the regional. For most of the season the Vikings played eight freshmen. So even though the championship didn't materialize this year, McCall thinks the Vikings have an excellent chance to return.

``This team has been fighting all year long,'' McCall said. ``We just found ways to win. The experience of the tournament will be great for them. They'll know they have to bring their 'A' game.''