Softball: Gerhart and Norco shine on Day 2 of Carew Classic

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The second day of the Michelle Carew Classic didn’t belong to Ayala, but instead to Norco, and in particular, pitcher Teagan Gerhart.

Norco, No. 4 in The Times’ top 25, defeated No. 5 Ayala, 3-1, after dispatching Don Lugo in the first round, 7-3.

Gerhart pitched the first four innings against Don Lugo and struck out nine.

Then she got serious.

She struck out 18 against Ayala in pool play. Even though she allowed a first-inning home run to opposing pitcher Jessica Hall, she mowed through the Bulldog lineup after that. Ayala’s only other hits were a couple of tame seventh-inning singles. Gerhart (15-3) also scored twice and drove in a run.

‘This is where she took off last year,’ Norco Coach Rick Robinson said of his junior ace. ‘The middle of the season is where she hit her stride after coming off the basketball season.’

By beating Ayala (12-5-1), Norco defeated a team that earlier this season beat Corona Santiago in the Nike Faster to First tournament. At the time, Santiago was ranked No. 2 in the nation, and it came a day after Ayala had beaten the No. 1 team in the country, La Palma Kennedy. Currently, Santiago is ranked No. 1 in the Southland and Kennedy is No. 2.

Earlier this week, Santiago beat Norco for the second time this season in Mountain View League play.

‘There’s not really any significance to beating Ayala,’ Robinson said. ‘Every game’s different. I think it meant something to our players, but it didn’t mean anything to me.

‘What was significant to me is that we’re putting the ball in play, which I like. We’re getting contributions from throughout the lineup and moving runners around.’

Norco will try to get into the tournament semifinals with a victory at 5:30 p.m. Friday against No. 18 Vista Murrieta. Because it’s pool play, Vista Murrieta can advance to the semifinals if it wins by two or more runs. Because of the run differential tie-breaker, Ayala cannot advance to the semifinals.

If Norco reaches Saturday’s semifinals, its likely opponent will be Kennedy.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.cnusd.k12.ca.us