By Ron Vrooman
The Alhambra Moors and the Schurr Spartans, locked in a tight race all season, wound up as Almont League co-champions in softball with identical records of 9-1.
On May 6, the Moors fell a game behind in the league standings after sustaining a 4-0 loss – their only setback so far this season-at Schurr High. But, Alhambra regained a share of first place on May 24 by beating the Spartans, 1-0, in eight innings. The Moors’ Priscilla Hernandez scored the game’s only run on a hit by Leilani Rosales in the bottom half of the extra frame.
Junior right-handed pitcher Hailey Yoshida went all the way for the win, striking out 18 batters while allowing only one hit and two walks. Two days later, Alhambra capitalized on 10 hits and six walks to beat the Montebello Oilers, 11-1, in its league finale. Yoshida struck out eight batters and scattered three hits in three scoreless innings to record the victory in a game which went just five innings.
Junior right-hander Anais Banuelos pitched the final two frames after the visiting Moors scored five runs in the top of the fourth inning to increase their lead to 11-0. The win over Montebello was the Moors’ sixth straight and improved their overall record to 13-1.
In the meantime, the Spartans crushed the Bell Gardens Lancers, 12-1, in their last regular-season game to preserve the first-place tie with Alhambra.
The Moors, who are coached by Gilbert Ramos, will face Bishop Conaty-Loretto in the first round of the CIF Division 6 playoffs on Thursday at 3:15. At the same time, the 17-2 Spartans, led by Coach Bobby Madrid, will open the Division 5 playoffs with a game against San Marino.
Just in: Second-round scores from the CIF softball playoffs.
Division 5: San Marcos (Santa Barbara) 2, Schurr 0
San Marcos scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to break a scoreless tie. The Royals improved their record to 19-4, while Schurr ends the season at 18-3.
Division 6: Alhambra 9, Rancho Alamitos 4
Arroyo 15, Calvary Chapel (Downey) 1
Alhambra (15-1) and Arroyo (14-1) will meet in a quarterfinal game at 3:15 on Tuesday.
Another first-round score from Division 6: Arroyo 8, Arrowhead Christian 0
The following second-round games will be played this afternoon (all of the local teams listed will be playing away from home):
In Division 5: Schurr (18-2) vs. San Marcos (18-4)
In Division 6: Alhambra (14-1) vs. Rancho Alamitos (14-9)
Arroyo (13-1) vs. Calvary Chapel of Downey (11-7)
Here are a couple of scores from today’s first round of the CIF softball playoffs.
In Division 5: Schurr 15, San Marino 6
In Division 6: Alhambra 17, Bishop Conaty-Loretto 0
Schurr is now 18-2, and Alhambra moves its record to 14-1. Both teams are looking really good!