Flintridge Sacred Heart softball comes out swinging

LA CAÑADA — Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy and opponent Sierra Vista looked similar on paper with both recording third-place finishes in their respective leagues.

However, they looked very different on the field in their CIF Southern Section Division V wild-card softball game.

On Tuesday afternoon, the host Tologs spread the hits around on the way to a 12-2 dismantling of the visiting Dons. The contest ended early via the mercy rule when the hosts pushed the margin to 10 runs in the sixth inning to send the Tologs into a first-round playoff contest on Thursday.

“If we can put the ball in play offensively and put pressure on the defense like we did today that is when we are successful,” FSHA Coach Kirk Nishiyama said. “We did a good job of that today.”

Against Sierra Vista, the No. 3 entry from the Montview League, Flintridge Sacred Heart (16-7-1) racked up 16 hits with nine Tologs recording at least one. The hosts also got at least one hit in every inning the Tologs, the No 3 entry from the Sunshine League, came to the plate, scoring in five of those six.

Alli Lombardo and Amanda Ramirez led the way with three hits apiece. Lombardo got it started by driving in Ramirez for the opening run of the game in the first inning. The sophomore finished three for four with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Her second RBI knock came on a double in the fourth inning.

“It was really important for us to start with a surge,” Lombardo said.

Ramirez was also three for four at the plate with two runs scored. All three of the freshman’s hits were singles. Ramirez also shined in the field playing shortstop, where she deftly handled 10 chances to turn them all into outs on nine ground balls and one pop fly.

“Amanda is amazing,” Nishiyama, whose team did not make an error, said. “Amanda has been solid for us all year. We have a good infield, everybody.”

Tolog Courtney Rasic was solid in the circle, going the distance for the win and allowing just three hits and striking out two. All three hits the sophomore surrendered were singles in the fourth inning when Sierra Vista (11-10) scored both of its runs. In total, she faced the minimum amount of batters in four of her six innings pitched.

“Courtney put the ball in play and we played good defense. That is our formula for success,” Nishiyama said.

Rasic was also potent at the plate, going two for three, scoring two runs and driving in three. All three of Rasic’s RBI came as part of FSHA’s four-run fourth inning that saw the advantage grow from 2-0 to 6-0. With two outs and the bases full, Rasic tagged a pitch from Sierra Vista hurler Abigail Cordova into the right field corner to clear the bases.

“It was just really clutch and I was happy about it,” Rasic said.

Rasic then scored on an infield single by Bridget Garrity for the final run of the frame.

“It was a great way to start off [the postseason],” Rasic said. “We came out with a lot of energy and communicated.”

After giving up two runs in the top of the fourth, the Tologs roared back with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Two came home on fielding errors by the Dons and the other two were driven in on doubles by Lombardo and Danielle Fradet, respectively. Fradet also had a single in the sixth and scored two runs.

FSHA went into the bottom of the sixth up, 10-2. With one out, Payton Tomkins drew a walk, which was followed with a single to left field by Fradet. Then, after Cordova registered her third strikeout of the game, pinch hitter Amesie Noll swatted a double into right field to drive home Tomkins and Fradet and bring the game to an early end.

Up next for FSHA will be a first-round contest on the road against third-seeded Garden Grove. It will be a familiar postseason opponent for the Tologs, who were knocked out of last season’s playoffs with a 6-1 loss to Garden Grove in the quarterfinals.

“[Garden Grove] is a tough team, but we are in a no-lose situation, so we go out and do our best,” Nishiyama said. “We’ll see.”