Glendale High softball takes two on Saturday
GLENDALE — While the Glendale High softball team might be a bit young, with eight underclassmen on board, they’ve already learned about execution during the first week.
Sophomore Alex Howard provided a glimpse of what might be in store this season for the Nitros.
Howard hit a game-winning, two-out home run in the bottom of the fifth inning to lead host Glendale to a 3-2 win against Grant in a Lincoln Classic Tournament contest Saturday. Glendale then recorded a 12-0 victory against Los Angeles Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Both games ended in five innings: the first due to the tournament’s 90-minute time restrictions and the second due to the mercy rule.
“She provides a good bat and she’s very steady,” said first-year Nitros Coach Greg Martin of Howard, who hit an inside-the-park home run to center field to cap the comeback. “We’ve got a lot of young players who are looking to learn and get better.
“It’s a tight game and that’s what you want softball to be like. That’s where you learn how to execute.”
Grant (0-1) scored twice in the first before Glendale sliced the deficit to 2-1 in its half of the inning when Howard scored on a passed ball.
Glendale relief pitcher Jordan Lousararian pitched three scoreless innings and continued her torrid streak in the circle in the next outing.
In the second game, Glendale (3-0) scored 10 first-inning runs to turn back L.A. Sacred Heart of Jesus (0-1). In the circle, Lousararian and Rachel Bartamian combined for an abbreviated perfect game.
Howard finished with a double, triple and home run. Sammy Fabian had a single and triple for Glendale, which received a single and double from Lousararian.
Martin said the Nitros, who began their season Thursday with an 7-6 nonleague defeat against Marlborough, have a chance to qualify for the playoffs.
“It’s one of our top goals coming into the season,” said Martin, who took over a squad that finished fifth in the Pacific League last season. “It’s going to be a tough league and we’ll have to upset one or maybe even two teams.”
The Nitros will next take part in a nonleague road game Tuesday against Golden Valley.
