El Camino Real Enjoys Sweet 16 in Semifinals, 3-2

Boosters at El Camino Real High ordered commemorative caps after winning City Section 4-A Division softball championships in 1996 and ’97.

And they misspelled the school nickname. They could get a chance to correct that mistake next week.

On Wednesday, the Conquistadores moved closer to their own hat trick--a third straight title--with a 3-2 victory over Banning in a 16-inning semifinal game that took 3 hours 21 minutes at South Gate Park.

Top-seeded El Camino Real (19-2) will play San Pedro (22-4), which beat Carson, 3-0, in the other semifinal game, in the championship game next Wednesday at UCLA’s Easton Stadium.

While top-seeded El Camino Real will be making its 11th championship-game appearance in 14 seasons under Coach Neils Ludlow, the excitement has become anything but old hat.

“The first time or the 10th time, it’s just as exciting,” said Ludlow, who is 9-1 in title games.

In a game that featured first-rate pitching by Ninette Martinez of Banning, and Stephanie Frasco and Ashley Redlin of El Camino Real, not to mention several spectacular defensive plays by Conquistadore shortstop Cara Blumfield, the game was won on a routine play.

Redlin’s grounder to third base in the top of the 16th drove in Jessica Riddle with the tie-breaking run.

Before that play, 10 runners advanced to scoring position in extra innings. Each time, Martinez (13-7) and reliever Redlin (4-0) wriggled out of the jams.

Martinez, who pitched no-hitters against San Fernando and Sylmar in the first two rounds of the playoffs, struck out 15, hit three batters and allowed 10 hits and one earned run.

Redlin, who took over for Frasco at the start of the seventh, struck out seven and yielded five hits in 10 innings.

The junior right-hander, who pitched El Camino Real to the City title last season, had not pitched more than five innings in a game since returning to the team earlier this month after having a baby.

“I could have pitched 10 more innings today,” she said. “I feel awesome.”

Candace Baldwin had three hits for Banning. Riddle and Morgan Smith each had three hits for El Camino Real, which won its 13th consecutive game.

Smith’s run-scoring double in the second tied it, 1-1.

Christina Enea gave the Conquistadores a 2-1 lead in the fourth, when she stole third and came home after the throw from catcher Serrina Martinez went into left field.

Banning scored on an error with two out in the bottom of the sixth to tie it again.

“You can’t put that game into words,” said Blumfield, who fielded 17 chances flawlessly. “We wanted a tough game, but nothing like this.”

Blumfield, a junior, twice gunned down Banning runners at third base with relay throws from shallow center field.

The All-City selection in softball and basketball also made two backhand stabs in the hole before throwing out runners and on another play alertly tagged out a base stealer who slid past second base.