By Ed Piper
The Vikings held visiting Mission Bay to a 2-0 lead through four innings Tues., May 7, which was an admirable feat considering the two teams' records.
La Jolla has struggled to find someone who can occupy the pitcher's circle and put the ball near the plate consistently this whole season. But in this instance, junior Roxy Metcalf, who normally starts at shortstop, repeatedly gave the Vikes a chance with her pitching, and the defense did a good job of taking care of the ball in the first half of the game.
The occasion was Senior Day, and Kaitlin Murphy, "Katy" to her teammates, played her last home game before a supportive crowd. There were some tears (including some in the dugout before the game from Savannah Putnam, the sophomore centerfielder).
"Murph" made a nice backhand grab of a grounder down the third base line from the Bucs' leadoff hitter, and unhesitatingly threw to first baseman Natalie Alvarez for the out. Kaitlin has made that play numerous times during her four-year career for LJHS, going back to the aftermath of the pandemic, and in travel ball.
Freshman Aviv Laska started at short, with Metcalf pitching. Normally she's a catcher, but she can pretty much play anywhere (starting at first base two days later).
The Vikings, under co-coaches Stephanie Alvarez and Anthony Sarain, have a good core to lead them into 2025 with freshmen Arie Williams (out with a leg issue), Laska, Natalie Alvarez, and Imelda Lopez.
A rare sideline event was the appearance of the three Alvarez sisters, with Emily (Class of 2018), Stephanie ('15), and their little sister, Natalie ('27), all attending. "I could never be a coach," averred Emily before the game behind the backstop. "I don't have the patience."
Other core members of the team for the future include J.C. Taylor, a powerful lefthanded hitter who can play the outfield and first base, and Maddie Ehlert, who caught, beside Putnam. Metcalf will return next year as the solo experienced and frontline senior.
La Jolla did garner five hits in the home loss, which is a start.
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