Cool Customers Lead El Camino Real to 5th Straight Title Game

Neils Ludlow was a sharp contrast to his El Camino Real High softball team Wednesday as the Conquistadores calmly defeated San Pedro, 1-0, in the City Section 4-A semifinals at South Gate Park.

Led by a defense that made tough plays look easy and a strong two-hit pitching performance by Jodi Iwafuchi, El Camino Real stood poised and ready to advance to its fifth consecutive City championship game.

But even after Iwafuchi retired the first two batters in the seventh inning, Ludlow nervously paced the dugout, thinking aloud with each pitch.

“I’m always nervous,” Ludlow said.

Minutes later, Ludlow was celebrating with his team as Iwafuchi retired Megan Moore on a ground out to end the game.

El Camino Real, winner of the West Valley League, will play Sylmar for the City Section 4-A championship Wednesday at Cal State Northridge. Sylmar defeated Banning, 10-5, Wednesday.

“They were tough,” Ludlow said of San Pedro. “It’s obviously a tight game when it’s 1-0.”

Not when El Camino Real (18-0), which ran its winning streak to 73 games, has the only run.

Iwafuchi (14-0) allowed only four San Pedro batters to reach base and didn’t allow a hit until the sixth inning. The Conquistadore defense aided Iwafuchi by turning a big play whenever it looked like San Pedro might rally.

With the game scoreless in the second inning and none out, El Camino Real catcher Jenny Fleming made a diving catch of Christine Pascual’s low pop fly and threw to first to double up Kelly Holt.

San Pedro (14-5), which finished second in the Harbor League, had another rally die in the sixth when El Camino Real second baseman Stacy Trapp made a running catch on Stephanie Freitas’ shallow pop fly in center field. The play came after Brenda Bryan ended Iwafuchi’s bid for a no-hitter with a single.

In between plays, Conquistadore third baseman Lisa Huffaker scooped up two sharply hit ground balls that could have gone for extra bases.

“We generally make the plays when we need to,” Ludlow said.

Added Iwafuchi, who improved her record to 14-0: “We do it as a team. Everybody works hard.”

Iwafuchi drove in El Camino Real’s only run in the fourth inning when she laid down a perfect bunt as Trapp raced home from third.

Moore (6-4) yielded five hits and had four strikeouts, but was charged with the loss.

“With a couple of breaks, we could have won,” Moore said.