It wasn’t going to be that easy this time around. After cruising
to a 7-0 win earlier in the season against Half Moon Bay, Live Oak
beat the No. 7 Cougars 3-1 in the quarterfinals in the Central
Coast Section Division III playoffs Saturday at the Salinas Sports
Complex.
Salinas – It wasn’t going to be that easy this time around.
After cruising to a 7-0 win earlier in the season against Half Moon Bay, Live Oak beat the No. 7 Cougars 3-1 in the quarterfinals in the Central Coast Section Division III playoffs Saturday at the Salinas Sports Complex.
“We had heard they were playing a lot better than last time we played them, so we expected it to be a lot closer game,” said Live Oak coach Barry McDonnell. “All the girls stepped up a notch in intensity.”
The win pits No. 2 Live Oak (24-5) against. No. 6 Stevenson (15-7-1) at 4:30pm today at PAL Stadium in San Jose. Stevenson defeated No. 3 Burlingame (23-7) 3-2.
“I think we can play with anybody, “McDonnell said. “I think there is a lot of parody in CCS right now. I don’t see any really dominant teams. I think we have a good chance to get to the finals.”
Live Oak got into trouble in the first inning after giving up two leadoff hits, but center fielder Sabrina LaCorte had a pair of catches and Tricia Goularte recorded a strikeout.
“I wasn’t really worried,” Goularte said. “I know I’ve got good defense behind me. We knew (Half Moon Bay) would come out fired up after losing 7-0.”
“It is a little bit typical,” McDonnell said of the slow start. “In the first inning, we want them to hit the ball and put it in the play. We don’t want to just put them on base.”
The Cougars struck first in the fifth inning. Leah Garcia hit a two-out triple that got by the diving Jenna Robertson in right field. Miranda Holeton singled in the run.
But Live Oak answered right back in the bottom of the inning. Robertson reached base on an error. League MVP Sarah Locarnini, who was on base three times, laid down a perfect bunt that froze the Cougar defense. She then advanced to second when the defense fell asleep.
“It’s my job as a leadoff hitter to try to get on base any way I can,” Locarnini said. “We play really well together as a team.”
Taylor Sutton hit a popup that the center fielder couldn’t field cleanly, and Robertson scored to tie the game. Live Oak took the lead on a groundout by Brittany Ondich. The Acorns had a chance for more, but the Cougars tracked down a deep fly ball by Kourtney Kientzy.
“I had a good feeling that she (Locarnini) might not only be able to sacrifice her (Robertson) over but beat it out for a hit,” McDonnell said. “We got really fortunate. They gave us some great opportunities for us to come back. If they make a couple plays, we don’t score.”
Half Moon Bay tried the same bunt play the next inning. But catcher Kientzy was able to throw out the runner at first.
“Defensively, we’ve been really strong,” McDonnell said. “We’ve won a lot of games this year because of our defense. It’s fun to watch them play. You send them out there, and they go on autopilot.”
The Acorns got a big insurance run in the sixth inning. Robin Nelson reached on an error, and Dahajaira Lopez came in off the bench and had an RBI single.
“I was trying not to think about anything,” Lopez said. “After not seeing the pitcher all game, I just wanted to do something to help my team.”
Half Moon Bay 000 010 0 – 1 6 4
Live Oak 000 021 x – 3 5 0
Loughran and Sena. Goularte and Kientzy.
2B – Willis (HM). 3B – Garcia (HMB). 2 hits – Holeton, Garcia (HM).
