LC's Lauren O'Leary nearly no-hit West Covina (Photo Anne Cypress)
(San Dimas) – A thrilling ending to a classic pitcher’s duel on Wednesday as La Canada edged West Covina 2-1 after a controversial ending in the seventh inning.
Spartans pitcher Lauren O’Leary struck-out eleven hitters through seven to get her second win of the season. O’Leary also lost her no-hit bid in the seventh inning when Dekota Monarrez’s bomb shot that would have been out of any park with a fence.
Monarrez’s hit scored Natalie Acevedo to cut the lead to one run. As Acevedo scored, Monarrez rounded third headed for home but couldn’t beat the throw from Anna Edwards as Catherine Horner masterfully blocked the plate. Kayla McCue ran down the shot to make a great relay throw to Edwards.
Bulldogs hitter Stefanie Jimenez then ended up on first base after an error with one out.
The controversy came on the next batter with Alex Rodriguez pinch-hitting for Jennifer Rodriguez she was hit with two consecutive pitches that the umpire ruled as a foul and then as batter interference for an out. West Covina’s coaches were not happy with the call after the ruling. Taylor Angino came up to the bat next and was caught looking, much to the chagrin of the Bulldogs to end the game.
The wild ending took away from O’Leary’s and Angel Martinez performances as they held each batter in check.
La Canada struck first-blood in the bottom of the first inning when Edwards worked a walk as the lead- off hitter. Edwards stole second and McCue sacrificed her to third. Horner drew a walk to give the Spartans a first and third scenario.
With Megan Siepler at the plate, Horner attempted to steal second and the catcher threw to second. That allowed Edwards to come home for the first run.
A questionable call going against La Canada in the fourth inning cost it a run, when Siepler appeared to tag at third on a fly-out to center by Alyssa Stolmack. West Covina appealed to third base and Siepler was called out.
Horner’s timely triple in the bottom in the sixth scored McCue from first to give the Spartans a 2-0.
Martinez in the loss finished with three strikeouts.
La Canada is now 2-0 in the San Dimas Classic. The Spartans face Glendora tomorrow night at 5:15 pm.
The Bulldogs are 0-2 in tournament play and face 0-2 Alta Loma at 5:15pm tomorrow.
Horner's attempted steal helped Edwards score from third. (Photo by Anne Cypress)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | R | H | E | ||
| West Covina | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| La Canada | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 2 | 3 | 1 | |
| at San Dimas Sportsplex | |||||||||||
| West Covina | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | ||||
| Alex Blanco | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Taylor Castro | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Summer Knight | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Natalie Acevedo | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Dekota Monarrez | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Stefanie Jimenez | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Jennifer Rodriguez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Alex Rodriguez | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Taylor Angino | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ashley Rodriguez | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| La Canada | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | ||||
| Anna Edwards | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Kayla McCue | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Catherine Horner | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Megan Siepler | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Alyssa Stolmack | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Shirley Drange | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Aubri Thompson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Kelsey Drange | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Selina Mohr | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Lauren O’Leary | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| West Covina | IP | H | K | BB | R | ER | |||||
| Angel Martinez | L | 6 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 2 | ||||
| La Canada | IP | H | K | BB | R | ER | |||||
| Lauren O’Leary | W (2-0) | 7 | 1 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 1 | ||||
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