Mandie Perez supplies the power and defense for Crusaders.
(San Dimas) – After a CIF semifinals appearance last season, South El Monte’s hopes for a title run in 2012 began on a sour note after Whittier Christian completely dominated the Eagles on Monday night with a game shortened 10-1 victory in five innings.
From the first batter to the last, the Heralds on paper looked as the heavy favorite in its opening round game of the San Dimas Saints Tournament and it showed as they used two four-run innings to decide the contest.
The decisive blow came in the bottom of the fourth as Katelyn Wagner supplied the power with a bases clearing double that scored three runs to give Whittier Christian a 9-1 lead.
Wagner finished the night 2-for-3 with a single, double and five runs batted in for the Heralds.
South El Monte struggled at the plate against Victoria Ayala as she breezed through the first inning. The Eagles looked to have life in the second as Ashley Diaz roped a triple into centerfield. One pitch later, Diaz was caught trying to score on a wild pitch, only to be called out on the tag.
With a 4-0 lead heading into the bottom half of the second inning, Whittier Christian’s Mandie Perez provided the power with a two-run shot to right-centerfield that extended the lead. The University of Arizona commit went 2-for3 in the game.
The bright spot for the Eagles offense came in its half of the fourth inning as Valerie Velasquez singled to lead off the inning. One batter later, losing pitcher Demi Nguyen doubled in Velasquez for South El Monte’s only run of the game.
Ayala closed the final inning out with a grounder back to the circle to get Mia Luques at first.
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