Lakewood softball used unearned runs and a stellar relief pitching performance from Kaiya Yonamine to beat Millikan 3-0 on Tuesday night at Lisa Fernandez Field. It is the Lancers’ seventh consecutive win over the Rams, and their 64 consecutive in Moore League.
High School Softball: Lakewood vs. Millikan
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Lakewood’s Kendal Lundberg reached third base on an error in the third inning, and scored on a strike-three passed ball. Lakewood (6-3, 2-0) added two more unearned runs in the fourth when Jordan Kaeka and Cassie Camou scored on another fly-ball error off of Lundberg’s bat. Millikan (8-5, 1-1) made four errors in the game, and three of them came on balls hit by Lundberg.
Lakewood starter Cassie Perryman, who got the win against Poly on Thursday, only lasted two innings against Millikan because of an illness. Yonamine came on in relief and pitched five scoreless innings while scattering five hits and striking out five.
“She came in and pitched a gem,” Miramontes said. “She showed a lot of poise.”
Yonamine pitched around eight base runners, and got help from her catcher Kaeka who tagged out a runner between third and home in the seventh.
“It was exciting and I was a little nervous at first but I got comfortable,” Yonamine said. “I make sure I stay ready (to come into the game) and keep my head in it.”
Millikan starting pitcher Rachel Rubio was in the circle for the three unearned runs, and junior Gretchen Goldsmith tossed 3.1 innings of scoreless relief. Senior Itzel Soto was the only player with two hits.
Lakewood and Millikan will play at Lisa Fernandez Field again on April 19.
