Revenge is best served in familiar fashion.
Last year before the Moore League softball season was cancelled due to COVID-19, Wilson went to Lakewood and upset the Lancers 9-3 thanks to a fantastic pitching performance from Hailey Houston and an important home run from catcher Juliana “JJ” Babore.
On Tuesday in the first league game of this shortened softball season, Lakewood repaid the favor with a 10-0 win in five innings thanks to a fantastic pitching performance from Laci Berecochea and an important home run from catcher Kendall Lundberg.
“They kind of kicked our butts last time we played so I wanted to do the same thing to them,” Berecochea said. “When I came in I was really nervous but (Kendall) came out and told me everyone had my back. They all calmed me down.”
Berecochea didn’t give up a hit until there were two outs in the top of the fifth inning when Caitlyn Almquist broke up the no-hitter with a single. The sophomore Berecochea finished with three strikeouts and two walks while her teammates played solid defense behind her. The Lancers also scored in every inning to support their starter.
“Everybody did their jobs and it was a great team win,” Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes said. “These girls are scrappy and they just took this game. That (game last year) still haunts me a little bit, I told the girls we had to stop them in the first inning and every time they punched we had to punch back.”
The Lancers took that advice as second baseman Ale Mota turned an inning ending double play in the first inning before Lakewood used its speed to put pressure on Wilson. Brooklynn Baruch reached on a one-out single and beat the throw to second on Mota’s chopper to the right side. After a fielder’s choice, Mota scored from second base on a 2-out single from Berecochea.
“We definitely wanted to come with a lot of energy and really bring it,” said Lundberg said, who hit a 2-run home run in the fourth inning that broke the game open. “They beat us last time and we didn’t get to play them again so this was our comeback game. We want to win every (league) game.”
Each spot in the Lancers lineup reached base and nine different players scored a run. Freshman Maddy Wynia delivered an RBI single in the third inning and a 2-run double in the fourth to cap the scoring. Also in the fourth inning, fellow freshman Maddy Mendoza made a diving catch in right field to keep Wilson off the board.
Meanwhile, Berecochea used her curve ball and changeup to keep the Bruins off balance. Wilson only hit four balls into the outfield.
“I told her she needed to get ahead in the count and keep the ball down and she did that,” Miramontes said. “I’m happy for her. She’s stepping up her game and she believes in her stuff.”
Lakewood visits Cabrillo on Thursday while Wilson hosts Millikan at Joe Rodgers.
Millikan 7, LB Poly 3
The Rams scored four runs in extra innings to break a tie at Joe Rodgers and beat the Jackrabbits in their league opener.
