Softball: No.1 Santiago’s loss raises stakes against No. 2 Norco

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How will they respond?

Corona Santiago, the No. 1 team in The Times’ rankings, is used to winning, but after a 1-0 loss to Corona Centennial (!!!) on Tuesday, the Sharks head into their home game today/Thursday against No. 2 Norco with first place in the Mountain View League on the line.

Do they come in fired up, or are they suddenly vulnerable?

My guess is they will be fired up. Santiago (21-2, 7-1) doesn’t need any incentive to try to beat Norco (20-4, 5-2). Maybe that wasn’t the case against Centennial (10-11, 1-5).

Twice this season, Santiago has defeated Norco, 3-0 and 2-0, as Kamerin May outdueled Teagan Gerhart. With a two-game lead and two to play, Thursday’s game was going to be virtually meaningless. But after Santiago’s loss to Centennial, Norco could create a tie for first place with a victory. Now, it’s not meaningless.

With Santiago’s loss on Tuesday, the intensity of today’s game at 3:15 p.m. got ratcheted up to a whole new level.

I can’t wait.

-- Martin Henderson

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