La Canada's Catherine Horner provided senior leadership with two RBIs.
(San Marino) – With runs at a premium, it took senior leadership to lead La Canada to a 4-0 victory over Rio Hondo League foe San Marino. The Spartans starting battery of Lauren Cox and Catherine Horner had their signature on an impressive road victory as Cox fanned 16 Titans and scattered three hits, while Horner went 2-for-4 with two RBI’s.
The win also catapulted La Canada into first place in the tight race for Rio Hondo League leadership.
In a rematch which many had circled after San Marino’s come from behind victory on March 23 didn’t disappoint as Cox and Floyd battled through four scoreless innings with each team having opportunities to draw first blood.
Spartan pitcher Lauren Cox struck out 16 Titans enroute to a RHL win.
It wasn’t until sophomore Olivia Leyva started the top of the fifth with a bunt single and stole second did the Spartans have a rally with less than two outs in the game. Horner followed with her first single of the afternoon that allowed Leyva to score from second to give La Canada the precious one-run lead.
Floyd worked her way out of what could’ve been a potentially damaging fifth inning with runners on second and third by striking out one La Canada batter and inducing a pop-out to short.
The very next inning, the Spartans exploded for three crucial runs to put the game out of reach with all the runs coming with two outs. After Floyd struck out the first-two batters in the inning, Brenna Gay put a charge on a 2-2 pitch to deep center for a double. Leyva beat out a grounder to give La Canada runners on first and third. After going 0-for-2 to start the game, Horner blooped a single over the shortstop that scored Gay. Katy Lee then singled to score Leyva and Horner.
After being given the one-run lead in the top of the fifth, Cox showed why she is arguably one of the best pitchers in the San Gabriel Valley by striking out the last seven batters she faced to end the game.
In the end, the window of chance in the third inning may come back to haunt the Titans in the long run. Already struggling for runs, San Marino had a golden opportunity to take the lead. Allison Lee was hit by a pitch to lead the inning off. Alexis Watanabe singled to advance Lee to second. After a striking out by Cox, the Spartans walked Floyd to load the bases. Cox struck out the next two batters to snuff out the threat.
For the second straight day the Titans were shutout and since returning from Spring Vacation have managed to score one run.
Floyd finish the game with 10 strikeouts for San Marino.
Floyd struck out 10 in the loss to La Canada.
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