Single Run in 7th Enough for Kennedy

With Sandra Durazo in the pitching circle, the Kennedy High softball team doesn’t need much offense to win.

Good thing, because the Golden Cougars didn’t get much Tuesday. But what they did get was enough for a 1-0 victory over the host Highlanders in a Northwest Valley Conference game.

Kelli Moorman scored the only run in the top of the seventh inning with some help from Granada Hills.

After Moorman hit a one-out single, Pauline Bolyard’s throw back to the infield sailed into the Kennedy bench and Moorman was awarded second base on the dead ball.

“I really don’t know what happened,” Moorman said. “I was running and looking down at the grass, like my coaches said I should do, and the next thing I know, the umpire told me to go to second base.”

Brandi Mercado hit a ground ball directly to Granada Hills pitcher Jessica Creith. Creith turned to keep Moorman at second, but when Creith threw to first, Moorman dashed to third.

After making the putout, first baseman Amy Matthews tried to get Moorman at third, but the throw was dropped.

Patti DelReal then singled to left and Moorman scored easily.

Kennedy (11-1, 5-0 in conference play) had a chance to score in the previous inning, but Bolyard threw out Annette Madrid at the plate.

Madrid tried to score from second base on a single by Durazo, but hesitated while rounding third base.

Durazo, who has pitched every inning for the Golden Cougars this season, held the Highlanders (6-5, 2-2) to four hits and struck out nine. She has given up just three earned runs in 90 innings this season.

Creith allowed six hits and struck out six.

Granada Hills’ only serious scoring opportunity came in the second. After opening the inning with a single, Stephanie Imada was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Carin Garcia on a single by Kim Rowerdink.

Kennedy has seized control of the North Valley League race. Last season, Kennedy dropped two close decisions to Granada Hills, who advanced to the City Section 4-A title game.

“This is another step along the way,” Kennedy Coach Lee Holden said. “Monday, we were out working in the rain. That’s what we have to do to win games like this.”