Rachel Leon makes a play in the outfield for South.
By MVS Staff
[South El Monte] Chasity Martinez drove in Nevaeh Castruita with a walk off base hit in the bottom of the eighth inning to lift South El Monte to a 3-2 win over West Valley Thursday in the first round of the CIF Division 4 playoffs.
Castruita and the Mustangs Anniyah Farley engaged in a pitching duel. Farley struck out 10 Eagles in 7 1/3 innings giving up just four hits but hit three and walked another, while Castruita struck out seven gave up five hits and two runs in 8 innings.
Sophomore Alyssa Hernandez hit a triple in the fourth inning driving in Liyah Rangel and Ava Camarena to put up South 2-0.
West Valley cut the lead in half when Aliana Zavala brought Jaeydan Forshaw with a single to right field.
It looked like the Mustangs took a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning but a runner interference cost them three runs and kept the game at 2-1.
In the top of the seventh West Valley’s sophomore Amarah Farley hit a double with one out and scored on a infield single from Evelyn Lorch making it 2-2.
That took the game into extra innings after a one-two-three seventh inning from the Lady Eagles.
In the bottom of the eighth Castruita hit a bloop single and stole second with Martinez up to bat. On a two-one count Martinez hit a hard liner to left which the outfielder bobbled and had no chance of getting Castruita at home for the game winner.
South El Monte’s freshmen Rachel Leon early in the game gunned out a Mustang who tried to stretch a single into a double on a outstanding defensive play.
Lady Eagles (21-3) will face La Canada (17-5-1), the Rio Hondo league champions, on Tuesday.
Chastity Martinez takes a rip for South El Monte.
Great game, West Valley had the better pitcher, better hitters and just better players. The SEM coach was the difference in the game. Coach Bunting out coached the West Valley coach and it showed in extra innings. He sent his runner with one out to second with his forth hitter up, she made it. Most coaches are so conservative and they play it safe and keep the runner on first and play station to station. Bunting put the pressure on West Valley defense and the forth batter hit a ground ball base-hit into left field. Bunting sent her home, the left fielder looked up and missed the ball, game over. Again most coaches would hold the runner on third. Next up LC away.