On a day in which there were more errors than hits, Live Oak
continued to find a way to win.
On a day in which there were more errors than hits, Live Oak continued to find a way to win.
Freshman Jenna Robertson continued her clutch pitching Tuesday and Live Oak stretched its win streak to 11 by defeating Mt. Pleasant 5-3 in a Blossom Valley Athletic League Mt. Hamilton Division game.
Robertson’s first pitch was hit for a home run over the fence and then she settled down to pitch a two-hitter with five strikeouts and two walks. The other two runs against the right-hander were unearned as the Acorns (15-2 overall, 7-0 BVAL) continued to lead the division.
“We brought (Robertson) up to be our second pitcher and because she can play anywhere in the infield or outfield and is a good hitter,” Live Oak coach Barry McDonnell said. “We wanted to give her time even if she didn’t pitch.”
Against Pioneer on April 5, she was pressed into action when Tricia Goularte hurt her knee.
“Tricia had to come out of the game and we had no other choice but to put Jenna in,” McDonnell said. “She did a really good job. She doesn’t get a lot of strikeouts, but she has good control and moves the ball around. And our defense is awesome this year which helps when (opponents) hit the ball on the ground.”
The game featured more errors (10) than hits (nine), but a stiff wind was mainly responsible for that.
“The wind was a big factor blowing in from the outfield,” McDonnell said. “Fly balls that would have been routine (outs) blew back into the infield.”
Live Oak tied the game in the third when Robin Nelson was safe on an error, Taylor Sutton bunted for a base hit and Brittney Ondich hit an RBI single. The Acorns threatened again in the fourth when they loaded the bases but didn’t score.
The Acorns broke it open in the seventh with four runs. Nelson again started things with a single. Sarah Locarnini drilled a triple to the right-field fence and scored as Sutton squeeze bunted for a single. Kelly McDonald’s high fly ball to left field was misplayed as Sutton scored. Ondich followed with her second RBI single.
The Cardinals (9-7, 3-3), who had a three-game win streak snapped, scored twice in the seventh with two errors playing prominently in the inning.
Sutton, Ondich and Nelson all collected two hits. The trio also had one stolen base each.
Live Oak is in action Saturday in the Watsonville Tournament. At 1:15pm, the Acorns face the host Wildcatz. At 3pm, they face Harbor.
And there’s a good chance sophomore Kelly Hillman will see action on the mound. Hillman was called up from the junior varsity. She is more of a power pitcher than Robertson, and McDonnell feels the differences between the two girls will help keep the opposition more off-balance.
Fact: All four of the Acorns’ infielders have been in the Central Coast Section playoffs – seniors McDonald and Ondich, and junior Locarnini with Live Oak on its 2005 CCS championship team and Sutton while at Archbishop Mitty.
