By Ed Piper
La Jolla's softball team, with several newbies and showing a lot of confidence, overcame a 4-0 lead they gave up to crosstown rival Bishop's in the top of the first inning to win going away, 14-4, Wed., March 2, at home.
The Vikings, with Anthony Sarain now back in the role of head coach, loaded the bases in each of the first three innings. Batters were showing a good eye in the strike zone. Multiple runs were forced in on bases-loaded walks. At least one was the indirect result of a nicely-laid-down bunt to reach base.
La Jolla's pitching ace, Emmy Cardenas, now a junior, was calling her own pitches. She would call out the number of the pitch she was going to throw, and her catcher, senior Ciana Delgadillo, would then be ready for whatever pitch was coming.
Emmy was causing considerable trouble for some of the Knights hitters with her assortment of pitches, as well as her command of the strike zone.
In the bottom of the first, the Vikes (2-4) erased the Bishop's lead. Then, in the next inning, they began to pile up runs, going out to a 7-4 advantage.
Previously guilty of some sloppy fielding in prior games, the Vikings held the Knights scoreless through the final six innings.
According to MaxPreps, that was the Knights' season opener. Their coach is Al Gomez.
This year, coming out of COVID and having graduated club/travel ball players who populated the roster in previous years, La Jolla's program is largely an incubator for some players who have little or no experience before. It has led to a congenial atmosphere in the dugout, as Cardenas, junior Gigi Smith, sophomore Kaitlin Murphy, and other softball veterans help encourage the young newbies while they acquire game experience.
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