South El Monte's Jasmine Vargas tries to tag out Anna Edwards at second. (Photo by Anne Cypress)
(La Canada) – The Spartans took the one more step toward being crowned CIF-SS Division 5 champs with a 6-2 win over South El Monte to advance to the finals at Deanna Manning Stadium.
As has been the case throughout the postseason, La Canada had a different player step up to help the cause in its win over the Eagles.
Aubri Thompson went 2-for-3 with two RBI’s to help lead the Spartans offense.
After South El Monte went quietly in the first-two innings, La Canada extended a 1-0 lead with two more runs in its bottom of the second inning.
Lauren Cox singled to lead the bottom of the second off. Annie Monroe replaced Cox at first as a courtesy runner and scored on Shirley Drange’s double to right-center field. Drange scored on Jessica Ogden’s grounder to second.
During South El Monte’s improbable run during the postseason, the Eagles have battled back in each of its games. Today was no different.
Down three runs, South El Monte began a comeback.
Julissa Castellanos and Andrea Barcenas each got on base with walks. Gena Meza advanced both runners with a sacrifice bunt. Valerie Velasquez grounded into a fielder’s choice to score Castellanos. Barcenas would score on a double to right-center to get the Eagles within one. The rally would end on a strikeout.
Lauren O’Leary shutdown South El Monte the remainder of the game scattering another two hits throughout.
La Canada answered back with insurance for O’Leary in the third inning. With one out, Megan Siepler and Catherine Horner each singled. Thompson then delivered with a single of her own to score Siepler from second. A perfectly laid bunt by Monroe allowed Horner to score for the teams fifth run of the game.
Thompson helped with the final run as well with Kelsey Drange on second after an error and wild pitch. Thompson singled to right that allowed Kelsey Drange to score.
The Spartans do know that they will face Beaumont in the finals. The date and time will be determined on Thursday.
La Canada's Megan Siepler is caught in a rundown with Jasmine Vargas (photo by Anne Cypress)
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