PREP ROUNDUP : Pacifica Hands Kennedy Its First League Loss in Softball

Toni Mascarenas scored on a bases-loaded bunt by Shelly Dunn in the bottom of the eighth inning to give host Pacifica a 2-1 victory over Kennedy in softball, handing the Fighting Irish their first Garden Grove League loss of the season.

With one out in the eighth, Mascarenas walked, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Natasha Sisco was intentionally walked to load the bases, and Dunn, who had previously bunted into a fielder’s choice and for a sacrifice, bunted again. Mascarenas slid home under the tag.

Pacifica (15-5-1, 9-1-1 in league), which tied Kennedy this season, moved a half-game behind first-place Kennedy (17-5-1, 10-1-1).

Shortstop Val Downen started Pacifica off in the first inning with a single to short, went to second on an error, was sacrificed to third and came home on a sacrifice fly by Andrea Pickett.

Kennedy answered in the second. After loading the bases, on a hit batter, error and single by Erryn Gutjahr, Kristy Hensel was thrown out at the plate on a grounder by Summer Perkins. The next batter, Leslie Prochaska, drove in Joy Hannifin with a groundball out.

In the fourth, Pacifica’s Kristin Freed struck out with two outs and the bases loaded. She redeemed herself in the eighth, catching Perkins’ line drive on the run with two outs and two on.

Pacifica Coach Rob Weil had to shuffle the lineup in the second inning when right fielder Kristina Carlson injured her knee while at bat. Dunn replaced Carlson and went to left, while Freed and Amy Smith each moved over one spot in the outfield.

“I told (Carlson) before she went to the hospital, ‘There’s a reason for everything,’ and now was (Dunn’s) turn,” said Weil. “She’s been patient, waiting to play for three years.”