The Monache High School Softball Team played host to one of the more prestigious high schools in the state of California on Tuesday afternoon as Long Beach Poly came into town for a Division 2 state playoff contest. Some of the more famous alums of Long Beach Poly include icons like Billie Jean King, Tony Gwynn, Chase Utley, Cameron Diaz and of course Snoop Dogg. Snoop's alma mater won't be moving on to “The next episode” as Monache defeated the Jackrabbits 3-2 in walk off fashion Tuesday afternoon, advancing themselves to the regional semifinals on Thursday at No. 1 seeded Christian High School in El Cajon.
The Jackrabbits got off to a quick start as Emoni Lam Sam singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and eventually come home to score on a triple by Kween Tauala to take a 1-0 lead.
Monache answered in the bottom of the second. Aaliyah Mendoza singled, moved to second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a single by freshman Emily Camacho to tie things at 1.
Monache threatened in the bottom of the fifth inning as Devynn Emerson singled to start the inning. She moved to second on a single from Jaydin Sabol. Shy’lee Teran then singled on a hard ground ball to center, but Emerson was thrown out at the plate on a great throw from Victoria Sepulveda to keep the game tied at 1.
Monache returned the favor in the top of the sixth inning. Star Sepulveda led off the inning with a triple to right center. The next batter, Sam grounded one to Aaliyah Mosqueda at short. Sepulveda tred to score on the play but Mosqueda threw a strike to the plate to cut her down and keep the game tied at 1.
Poly took the lead in the top of the 7th as Victoria Sepulveda drew a walk. Isabella Cisneros laif down a bunt that was fielded by Teran. She fired to Danika Sanchez who came over from second base to cover but Sanchez couldn't handle the throw and all of a sudden the Jackrabbits had runners on first and second with nobody out. Star Sepulveda then singlef to load the bases, still with nobody out. Teran bucklef down, getting Tegan Breax to pop out to first. She then got Star Sepulveda to bounce one right back to her in the circle. Teran thrrw home to force out the lead runner and keep the game tied at one.
However Sam singlef softly to center to score a run and give the Jackrabbits a 2-1 advantage.
Monache struck back in the bottom half of the 7th. Emerson led off with a single. Back to back flyouts put Monache down to their last out. Teran kept the game alive as she hit a short fly ball to left, just eluding the glove of left fielder Sunnie Vaafuti for a base hit. Sanchez then tied the game with a single to center, scoring Emerson. Mendoza then singled to score Teran and send the Marauders to the regional semifinal.
“I’m so incredibly proud of the girls for showing fight. After a tough loss, the girls bounced back and rallied,” said Monache coach Brianna Bamber, referring to Monache's 2-1 loss to Bakersfield Christian in the section finals. “They took the loss in stride, using it as fuel to motivate them. As a team we sat and discussed what we wanted as a group to get out of this postseason run and we all agreed to fight all the way to the end. The girls want and have earned more time.”
The Marauders got a great effort in the circle from Teran who gave up one earned run on 5 hits while striking out five. “Shy’Lee showed fight tonight. She is a trooper, and a fighter. She threw some bold pitches and held a very talented Long Beat team to two runs. She was so impressive tonight and she helped herself out on the offensive side with a clutch two- out hit in the bottom of the seventh. Just awesome stuff from those girls” said Bamber about her starting pitcher.
Bamber also talked about her team's ability to keep fighting when they were down to their final out. “The fact my girls continued their fight with two outs in the bottom of the seventh just goes to show their determination to succeed. That was just straight up grit and tenacity. We stress the importance of clutching up and getting line drive base hits, and the girls delivered tonight.”
Next up for the Marauders is the No. 1 seed Christian High School from El Cajon. “Christian High School is a legitimate team and in order to come out on top we have to have clutch hitting when it counts and continue to stay strong on the defensive side. We pride ourselves in our strong defense and pitching staff, so to come out on top I’d say as I usually do that we need to clutch up with our offense” said Bamber about Thursday’s opponent.
The game will take place at 4 p.m.