San Pasqual Is Surprise Winner at Hilltop

With a coach overseas on personal business, an assistant coach in his first day on the job, and an inexperienced infield suffering from game jitters, the San Pasqual softball team was the least likely candidate to reach the championship game of the Hilltop Tournament at Hilltop.

“They were a big surprise for everyone,” said Hilltop Coach and Tournament Director Nancy Acerrio. “They were really hitting.”

By defeating Castle Park, 6-4, for the title Saturday, the Eagles (5-1) won their first tournament in acting coach Tim Esposito’s memory.

Castle Park took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Trojans’ star pitcher Dawn Wood--she received national recognition last year after she tied a national record by pitching two consecutive perfect games--singled home Debbie Davis and promptly deflated San Pasqual’s confidence.

“Once they got ahead, that was scary,” left fielder Susie Esposito said. “Then we just started getting runs.”

San Pasqual’s first run came in the bottom of the first when Jill Combe scored on a Castle Park error.

But the Eagles pulled away in the fourth inning, scoring three runs on two hits and three Castle Park errors. Katherine Longfellow singled, Sheila Teach reached on an error and Susie Esposito hit an infield single, loading the bases. Teach then scored on a throwing error by Wood. Esposito stole second base, advanced to third on the throwing error and scored on Holly Short’s single to left, giving San Pasqual a 4-1 lead.

“It’s a good feeling when you know you can beat a pitcher of Dawn Wood’s quality,” Tim Esposito said. “They didn’t give up. Everyone did a super job as a team. “

Tim Esposito said his players were nervous in the first two games of the tournament, but settled down and, “started to play our ball game. We started to play fundamentally sound ball.”

Castle Park’s final run came in the sixth inning when Christina Murguia scored on Wood’s RBI double.

San Pasqual scored two runs in the bottom of the sixth for the 6-2 lead.

Susie Esposito, Tim’s daughter, finished with two hits, two runs and two RBIs and was named to the all-tournament team. Esposito, although a junior, is playing her first year of high school softball.

“This gives us a lot of confidence,” Susie Esposito said. “We know we can work together as a team, we don’t have to always get down on ourselves.”

Said Castle Park Coach Tim Tyler: “They hit the ball pretty well. My outfielders were very timid today. They didn’t come in when they needed to. Defensively, they beat us up.”

San Pasqual pitcher Rene Williams was voted the tournament’s most valuable player. Williams had two strikeouts and allowed four hits.

“Rene did a super, super job for us today,” Tim Esposito said.

For Castle Park (5-2-1), Woods finished with six strikeouts and allowed five hits.

Tim Esposito credited his third baseman, Longfellow, and shortstop, Nikki Gannon.

“If anyone’s going to hit anything their direction, there’s someone who’s going to get a glove on it.”