Dale, Tutwiler carry Flintridge Prep softball past Mayfield

PASADENA — There’s plenty of firepower throughout the Flintridge Prep softball team’s budding lineup.

With Natalie Dale and Alex Tutwiler batting third and fourth, respectively, the duo has provided a dynamic for a Flintridge Prep squad looking to make the CIF Southern Section playoffs for the second straight season.

Dale finished with four hits and Tutwiler added two on Friday to propel Flintridge Prep to a 12-2 Prep League victory against Mayfield at Brookside Park. The game was called after six innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.

“It’s a very powerful lineup that we have and we’re confident we can score when we get runners on base,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Julie Mejia, whose Rebels are in third place in the seven-team Prep League. “We have depth throughout and it’s great for our team.

“I think Natalie and Alex have been a great one-two punch for our team. As a coach, it’s great to see them succeed and you’re confident they can drive people in.”

Dale had two singles and two doubles. The sophomore shortstop, who additionally excelled on defense, scored three runs and drove in four runs to propel Flintridge Prep (10-4, 5-3 in league). Tutwiler, a senior catcher, had a single and double and drove in three runs to turn back Mayfield (5-11-1, 2-7).

A run-scoring single by Dale, a reigning All-Area and all-league selection, gave the Rebels a 1-0 lead in the first.

“We’re building off what we were able to do last year and we have just about everybody back,” Dale said. “We wanted to get out to an early lead and it helped us a lot.

“I’m just going up there to do anything I can to help out.”

Tutwiler followed with a two-run double to extend the lead to 3-0. Tutwiler then had a run-scoring single in the fourth to make it 4-2.

“There’s a lot of versatility in the lineup and we feel good about ourselves,” Tutwiler said. “We got those runs early and it built up the team morale. Then we were able to roll with our momentum.

“Natalie and I are both power hitters. She’s very fast and I’m just trying to knock her in.”

A run-scoring single by Maia Cohen gave the Rebels a 5-2 lead in the fourth. Later in the inning, Dale registered a two-run double to bring the lead to 7-2.

A couple of Mayfield errors paved the way for Flintridge Prep to score twice in the fifth to make it 9-2. In the sixth, Dale, Libby Penn and Maya Vasquez each drove in a run to cap the scoring.

Dale was busy at shortstop in the fourth. She made a superb play going into the hole and making a perfect throw to first base to record the first out before catching a pair of line drives.

Flintridge Prep finished with 12 hits, including three from Cohen. Cohen scored three runs for the Rebels, who got two from Therese Oshiro and Penn and one from Courtney Johnson and Taylor Yoshida.

In the circle, Oshiro struck out seven and yielded nine hits. Oshiro, a right-hander, struck out two in each of the first three innings.

The Cubs got three hits from Malayna Domingo and two from Jacqueline Baggott and Madeline Biscaichipy.

Flintridge Prep, which recorded four stolen bases, swept the two-game season series against Mayfield. The Rebels picked up a 17-7 win April 5.