5-A ROUNDUP : Katella Surprises Kennedy, Longeway With a 1-0 Victory

Cheryl Longeway, Kennedy’s hard-throwing left-handed pitcher, was as tough as advertised Thursday. But Katella pulled off two big plays in a stunning 1-0 victory in the first round of Southern Section 5-A softball playoffs at Boysen Park in Anaheim.

Longeway struck out 14 and yielded no walks and two hits, but an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning and a six-hit shutout by sophomore Kelsi Armbruester ended the Kennedy senior’s highly successful prep career.

Katella Tonya Armbruester scored the deciding run after doubling to left-center and scoring from second on Lisa Helg’s two-out infield single. Armbruester appeared to be out after first baseman Renee Gragnano’s throw to home, but the ball was dropped and she dove back to the plate.

“When I turned and looked, their first baseman was doing the splits and had her hands on the ground. I didn’t know if she had the ball, so I went,” Armbruester said.

The Knights (16-6) made a big defensive play in the top of the fourth inning after Longeway singled and attempted to score from first on Nicole Paloney’s base hit deep to left-center. Shortstop Tammy Lohman’s relay throw to the plate was on target, and Longeway was out, ending the inning.

Kennedy (22-4) threatened in the sixth, but Longeway popped up, stranding teammate Lana Jiminez on third base.