Junior Jacklyn Zacarias showed the poise of a senior with the bases loaded in the top of the seventh.
(West Covina) – In a dramatic edge of your seat finish, Schurr pulled off a shocker over South Hills in the opening round of the Charger Classic at Big League Dreams, 4-3.
With time winding down on the Spartans in its own half of the sixth inning, Jacklyn Zacarias singled to start the inning with just 15 minutes remaining. After Aisha Ruiz grounded to first base, Jessica Rivera bunted down the third baseline and watched as Huskies third baseman Sabrina Perez misplayed the pop-bunt that allowed Zacarias to second and Rivera to first. Emily Sanchez’s seeing-eye single got through the hole between Lexi Robles and Sydney La Follette to set up bases loaded and the dramatic plate appearance by Byanka Diosdado. Facing a 1-0 count, Diosdado laced a shot down the left field line that landed on the chalk clearing the bases for Schurr to tie the game as time wound down.
Sarah Macias came in for Caitlyn Van Hemelryck with one out in the sixth inning with a runner on third and quieted the hot Spartan bats to send the game into the “international tiebreaker”.
Zacarias never came unnerved in the top part of the seventh as Abry Moreno began at second. Robles blooped a double into right field that allowed Moreno to third and opened first base up to give the Schurr the option to pitch or intentionally walk Britney Rodriguez. Head Coach Jackie Montanez decided to walk and load the bases with La Follette and Kristen Stewart on deck.
LaFollette was induced to pop up to first and Stewart grounded to second to end the threat.
The magic continued for Schurr in the bottom of the seventh with Stephanie Guido at second base to start the inning. A perfectly laid bunt by Monica Troncoza allowed Guido to advance to third. Head Coach Scott Fisch made the decision to bring in La Follete into the circle with Zacarias at the plate.
One pitch later, the game was over as LaFollete’s pitch hit the dirt and went to the backstop and allowed Guido to race home for the game-winning run.
Prior to the furious comeback, it appeared that South Hills veterans and pitching was too much for the defending Almont League champs as Stewart homered in the second inning and looked to get some insurance runs in the fifth inning as Robles scored on a wild pitch and Natalie Fisch scored on Rodriguez’s second hit of the night.
Van Hemelryck cruised through 5 1/3 innings scattering just two hits prior to the sixth inning.
The Spartans will now face Montclair who upset San Dimas 5-3 on Monday.
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