The Lakewood softball program had lofty goals for the 2019 campaign. The Lancers successfully took back the Moore League title, but couldn’t return to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2016.
Lakewood (26-4) outhit South Torrance in the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs on Tuesday at Lakewood High, but the visiting Spartans held on for a 3-1 win.
“We were knocking on the door a few times but we had a lot of pop ups and that was our downfall,” Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes said. “We didn’t make adjustments early and had 10 outs that were pop ups. We just didn’t finish with our best game.”
South (22-6) jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Haley Hayakawa’s bases loaded single, and that’s all starting pitcher Sophia Fernandez needed. The crafty lefty scattered seven hits and one walk.
Lakewood got on the board in the fourth inning when Kendall Lundberg drove home Cassie Camou after the junior led off the inning with a triple. Fernandez stranded two runners with two pop outs to end the threat. South scored again in the top of the fifth inning.
Lundberg and senior Taylor Pack were the only Lancers with two hits.
“I’m proud of the seniors and they had a great year,“ Miramontes said. “This is the best overall record that I’ve had here. This does sting a little bit, and it will take a few days to shake it off. We had some good senior leadership that we’re sorry to see go, but we’re looking forward to next year.”
Lakewood junior Cassie Perryman got the start and settled in after the two-run first inning. Junior Kaiya Yonamine came out of the bullpen to pitch three scoreless innings.
