May 19, 2010

JV Softball

The regular season is complete and the team finished with an overall record of 8-8-1 and a league record of 6-3-1, which gave us 2nd place in the Northern League behind 1st place Lincoln. The team was led by Junior Captain Karla Medina and Sophmore Captains Aaliyah Tihanyi and Jessica Vargas. I would like to thank all of the parents and fans who supported the team this year. It was a great season with a wonderful group of young ladies.

Submitted by Coach Kenney

Wednesday, May 12, 2008

Last years Eagle Rock softball team finished the year 18 and 5 (9 - 1) sharing the Northern League title with Lincoln; having spotted them a 4-3 error plagued win in there first meeting last year and then handing the Tigers, in convincing fashion, a 5-0 three hit shutout to end league play. With the loss of 3 seniors but with a nucleus of returning starters including Junior pitcher Theresa Kelley and two time 1st team all league infielder Vickie Delgado, the Eagles were primed to defend and retain their league title. But alas, the cards were shuffled and dealt anew.

Pitcher Kelley got news of a knee condition in February that would have her out for the season. The search for a replacement was on. Ms. Delgado had pitched as a younger player in travel and rec. ball and it was soon found out that she would be the one to come to the rescue. So before you knew it or seemingly could yell out ' let's play ball' the games began.

The infield rounded out with battery mate and senior Vanessa Duarte behind the plate, senior Jocylen Cunanan at third, junior Veronica Solis at short, sophomore Elizabeth Cecconi at second and junior Ivette Rodriguez at first. This group of girls proved to be a stingy bunch when it came to giving up hits and giving in to errors and they are to be applauded and noted for there defensive mind set.

The outfield is where the rubber hit the pavement when it came to battling for starting spots. Center field was soon owned by junior Paula Escobar by way of her superb effort and expertise but left and right were up for grabs. There was returning senior Miriam Medina, junior Janine Lansang, sophomore Arelly Alvarez and first year player and senior Schyna Pour. These four girls have all had moments defensively this year but it was the bat of Alvarez ( in right field) that made it a three horse race for left.

The preseason got off to a good start with a 5-1 win over Garfield where Delgado went 2 for 3 with 2 runs and an rbi and pitched a 3 hitter striking out 7. Next up Verdugo Hills was a tough customer silencing almost all but Delgado's bat and shutting out the Eagles 7-0. Wins over Poly and Bravo were meted out by losses to Roosevelt and and an early morning tournament game against Chatsworth. The latter loss set up what looks to be the upset win of the season.

After a Monday warm-up win over Bravo 16 to 6 our Eaglettes hosted Chatsworth; facing the West Valley power for the second time in 5 days. After giving up a run in the top half of the first inning Eagle Rock came to bat with nothing to lose. After Elizabeth Cecconi hit hard back to the box for the first out, Delgado singled, Alvarez reached base on an error and Vanessa Duarte walked to load the bases. That brought up basketball bright spot and junior Veronica Solis who promptly lined the first pitch for a two run single to give the home team a 2-1 lead. The Chancellors of Chatsworth worked there way back into the game and had taken a 4-2 lead going into the bottom of the fifth inning when once again the girls of prey came alive. With one out Cecconi walked, Delgado singled for the second time in the game and Alvarez had a fly to right field misplayed for an error scoring Cecconi. Next up was clean-up hitter Duarte who took a 1-0 pitch deep to right center field (coaches favorite alley) for a home run and that was the difference as Delgado needed just 7 batters in the 6th and 7th innings to seal the deal.

As the pre-season continued and the girls weathered the wrath of Easter break the Eagle Rock Softball team entered into league competition with a record of 5 and 5. Wilson High was battle one and after the Eagles 10-2 thumping at the hands of Crenshaw, (a game that greeted our girls out of that notorious spring break) they then seemed ready for the Wednesday match-up with the Mighty Mules. Three Eagles had multi hit games led by Alvarez at 3 for 4 (2 rbi's and a run) Solis at 2 for 3 (2 runs and an rbi) and Paula Escobar going 2 for 4 and scoring a run. The final score was 7 to 2 Eagle Rock and they were off to good start.

The next two games followed with dead certainty. The Marshall pitcher mostly dominated the Eagle hitters, and although the score showed a 4-3 loss for our home team - were it not for Schyna Pour's 2 out 7th inning strikeout heard round the world(you'dda' hadd'a' been there for that one) it was a shutout. Next up Lincoln took to their home field advantage and waged a wipeout; the Eagles fanning the fire with a tinder of errors in an 8-2 loss.

The two games to wrap up the first half of the season were not to be lost and perseverance paved the way as the Delgado Gang made us wait 9 long innings to capture the Franklin flag 5 to 4 before coasting to an 11 to 0 win over this years league doormat Belmont.

Some people say that in life it is about who you know, but I'll tell you, in sports, at its core, it comes down to who you can beat. This group of girls, given their set of circumstances, had three teams in this league that they had to beat; and they beat them. They had two teams about which they could spoil a season; they failed to do that. But they did their job with a certain dedication and flair finishing the league season at 6 and 4(11 and 9 overall), and based on that record, there history as a strong and competitive team,(not to mention the Chatsworth victory) they have been seeded 18 in the City Section pool of 32 and play on Tuesday May 6th versus the 15 seed Cleveland from the all powerful West Valley League.

Congratulations to the team on the season and games well played and may your heart get just slightly ahead of you in the battles ahead.

Submitted by Coach Kelley

Monday, May 14, 2007

The Eagle Rock girls softball season came to a close Thursday May 10th in what was statistically a close game but ended in a 7-1 loss. The Eagles traveled to Wilmington to take on the Banning Pilots, last years City Section championship game runner-up, and by all accounts played with the heart and spirit that followed this team through their 18-5 (9-1 league) season.

Seniors Sabrina Fernandez, Megan Mayer and Lindsey Zuber finished their storied seasons with career bests in batting. Infielders Jocylen Cunanan, Vickie Delgado, Ivette Rodriguez and Veronica Solis all surpassed their potential in playing to win while outfielders and utility players Elizabeth Cecconi, Paula Escobar and Miriam Medina, all first year varsity players, continually made contributions in this a great team effort. The battery consisted of Vanessa Duarte behind the plate and Theresa Kelley on the rubber. There commitment and diligence helped carry the team to their share of the Northern League title and then on to the first round of the championship playoffs.

Coach Gerry Scholes, having coached the girls softball team to 6 titles in the last 6 years, is to be commended this year in particular for his time and effort, as he came out of retirement just as the season was to begin. Coach Gary Kuniuki stepped down from leading the girls, for personal reasons, and coach Scholes stepped up, and found a way to guide the girls through another solid season.

Submitted by Martin Kelley

Friday, May 11, 2007

Our Eagles and the Cougars of Crenshaw met this past Tuesday to decide which row to hoe. Eagle Rock took the high road in winning 16 - 6 and will head to the championship flight while Crenshaw finds itself in the Invitational bracket. The game was haunted by a host of errors from both sides as it appeared that a few too many nerves were at play. Crenshaw scored two in the first after an error and a home run but the Eagles countered with a 2 out 9 run rally in the bottom half of that inning essentially flattening the Cougars. Crenshaw will host Hamilton and our Lady Eagles fly to Wilmington to play #4 Banning on Thursday May 10th. Good luck girls!

Submitted by Martin Kelley

Friday, May 4, 2007

The Eagle Rock Girls softball team notched the 13 seed in the City Section playoff pairings Thursday night and will have a home game rematch vs. Crenshaw on Tuesday May 8th at 2:30. The Cougars come replete with Alia Williams the city's # 2 batter (.702), RBI's (55) and home runs (12) plus pitcher Lindsey Irving whose 17-2 record is attended by 235 strikeouts (you do the math).

The Lady Eagles came back in the 6th to score 2 and go ahead 8-7 in the first contest holding the # 20 seed in the top of the seventh inning to garner the win. Coach Scholes expects to have all hands on deck for this decisive set-up game (winner to the championship series - loser to the invitational bracket) and should prove to be an exciting game for all in attendance in what might be the girls last home game of the year.

Submitted by Martin Kelley

Saturday, April 28, 2007

The Eagle Rock softball team travels to Lincoln Park this coming Tuesday May 1st to take on the league leading Tigers for a share of the Northern League crown. Since the Eagles heartbreaking 4-3 loss to Lincoln to end the first half of league the battlers in green and white have not allowed an earned run in bringing down Wilson 3-0, Marshall 14-0, Belmont 8-0 and Franklin 16-1. The Eagles are led in part by their three seniors Lindsey Zuber, Sabrina Fernandez and Megan Mayer. Zuber has gone 9 for 11 in her last 3 games and now leads the league in batting average. Fernandez continues hover around .500 with her average and in her lead off role went 4 for 5 against the Panthers of Franklin in the last game. Mayer has had some dazzling defensive plays this year in her right field position but none quite compares to the line drive she hauled down seemingly out of nowhere up the gap against Franklin this past Thursday. Megan also had a 4 for 4 game against Belmont earlier in the season. Theresa Kelley continues to pitch well and allowed only 5 hits in these last four games. The ladies now sport a 16 and 4 overall record and are 8 and 1 in league as they count down the days for there rematch with Lincoln.

Submitted by Martin Kelley

Saturday, April 14, 2007

The ERHS softball team entered the third week of league with an overall record of 11-3 and 3-0 amongst their peers. Tuesday's game at Franklin was a pitchers duel as the Lady Eagles Theresa Kelley went 6 innings of perfect ball before allowing a leadoff single in the bottom of the 7th. After a strikeout and an error had runners on first and third for the Panthers with one out Elizabeth Cecconi made quick work of a line drive to second completing an unassisted double play to end the game. It was a welcome return for Cecconi as she had been on the DL since league started; she went 2 for 4 in a game where Eagle Rock managed only 4 hits(although they stranded 8 runners on base)and accounted for all the runs in the 3-0 win with 2 rbi's and a run scored in the Eagle's 3 run 5th inning.

Next up for the school's Diamond Darlings was mighty Lincoln at Eagle Rock. Sporting matching 4-0 league records this was looking to be one for the pressure cooker. Theresa Kelley started the top of the 1st by striking out the side on 9 pitches - a feat she had not accomplished since a stint in the minors of Little League. The following few innings continued to go the Eagles way as they managed a 3-0 lead after 3 with hitting by Lindsey Zuber (a triple and an intentional walk), Kelley (two doubles) and Ivette Rodriguez (a double). But that was all she wrote on offense for the team and those Lincoln Tigers small balled their way back with a run in the 4th, the 5th and 2 in the 6th for the 4-3 win. The home team didn't quite help themselves out on defense committing 3 errors en route to 2 unearned runs.

With both teams intent on strong second halves in league play the last game of the season is setting itself up to be a real doozy. Next up for the ERHS softball is Wilson away on Tuesday April 17th and then back home on the 19th against Marshall at 2:45.

Submitted by Martin Kelley