Career efforts lead Flintridge Prep softball past San Gabriel Mission
LA CAÑADA — With a nice mix of experienced players and underclassmen, there’s been a positive vibe surrounding the Flintridge Prep softball team.
The Rebels, fresh off advancing to the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs last season, have relied on their budding lineup to put them in position to challenge for the Prep League championship.
Things have come together for Flintridge Prep, which made use of the first career home run by Therese Oshiro and a career-high four hits from Libby Penn on Wednesday en route to an 8-0 nonleague home win against San Gabriel Mission.
“It’s a great group and they have fun working hard,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Julie Mejia, who took over the program in 2006. “We have a good amount of returners and they are mature and can provide leadership for the younger players.
“We have been playing much better on defense and we have a lot of people who can get the big hits, when needed. We’ll compete in league. We like where we are right now.”
Oshiro, a junior, impressed in the circle and with the bat for the Rebels (4-2). The junior right-hander struck out five and limited the Pioneers (1-5) to three hits in the shutout.
Oshiro got a groundout to second with runners on first and third to end the contest.
“That’s one thing about our team is that we pick each other up if we do make a mistake,” Oshiro said. “There are a lot of good players here.
“When I’m pitching, I’m just focusing on [catcher Alex Tutwiler]. I’m clearing everything else out.”
Flintridge Prep took a 1-0 lead in the first on a single by Penn that scored Natalie Dale, a reigning All-Area selection.
The Rebels scored twice in the second to make it 3-0. Oshiro singled home Amari Dennis before Dale, who finished with four hits, doubled in Oshiro to extend the lead to 3-0. Courtney Johnson made it 4-0 with a run-scoring double to plate Penn, who had doubled.
Yoshiro then enjoyed a milestone moment when she hit a solo home run to left to make it 5-0 in the fourth.
“I hit the ball and then I could hear the crowd cheering,” Oshiro said. “I was hoping to hit a home run at some point.”
The Rebels continued their offensive surge in the fourth, capped by a two-run triple from Penn to score Melissa Grande and Dale.
A sacrifice fly to left by Tutwiler scored Grande in the sixth.
“You get more confident every time you get your bat on the ball,” Penn, a freshman first baseman, said. “We scored some runs with two out and that just sparks the team.
“You put yourself in position to have success. I kind of got locked in when I was batting.”
Dale had three doubles and one single for the Rebels, who finished with 14 hits. Dennis collected a pair of hits.
Christina Rosas had all three hits for San Gabriel Mission.
Flintridge Prep will take part in a league home contest at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday against Mayfield.
