LJ softball recap

Shortstop Josie Sinkeldam tries to make a play on a

stolen base attempt by Islander Jennica Lasala
in the fifth inning. The runner arrived safely.
(Photo by Ed Piper)

Josie Sinkeldam had three hits from the leadoff spot, and teammate Stephanie Alvarez added three more as La Jolla downed Coronado, 5-2, on the Islanders' home field Wed., April 22.

In all, the Vikings collected nine hits and took advantage of five errors by Coronado to secure their 12th win of the season. That is four times as many wins as they had all last season, and there are three weeks left in the regular season plus playoffs yet to participate in.

The game against 'Nado was a non-league contest. The Vikings' big challenge is in the Western League, in which they are knotted in a three-way tie for second place with University City and Clairemont. All three bridesmaid teams have 4-2 league records and trail powerful Cathedral Catholic, which is 5-1 in Western League play.

The lower part of the order made contact, at times bunting, in contributing their end of the bargain. But hitters seven through nine failed to get a single hit or run scored.

But that is the way the Vikings have gone, on the power of the front end of their batting order. Sinkeldam, a freshman shortstop, continued her blazing hitting and scored one of the LJHS runs in the third inning.

Alvarez, who leads all Western League hitters with a .534 average, blasted a double to right-center in the sixth but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple. Sinkeldam sits third among league hitters with a .455 average.

Linda Brown, another member of the slugging sorority, pounded two hits, including a triple in the third inning. She is batting .437, fifth among Western Leaguers.

Alvarez has seven home runs and Brown six as leaders in that statistical category in the Western League.

The Vikings' aggressive base-running yielded benefits against the beleaguered Islanders, who mishandled plays at second base multiple times.

Looking ahead to CIF playoffs was unheard of in previous seasons at La Jolla. Now the Vikings are getting their ducks in order, as the success of their 2015 season continues to unfold and their confidence grows from their accomplishments.

Katja Sarain, though held hitless in the second slot in the order, held Coronado to two runs. She tops Western League pitchers with 10. Her ERA of 3.27 ranks third among pitchers. She has struck out 40 batters, good for second place but far behind the leader, Megan Faraimo.


Copyright 2015 Ed Piper