Pitcher’s Mistake Costs Kennedy in Loss to Pacifica

Kennedy pitcher Crystal Eubanks made few mistakes in Tuesday’s nonleague softball game against Pacifica, but one of them cost her the game in a 1-0 loss at Pacifica.

Eubanks (1-2) gave up only two hits, striking out eight and walking one, but the walk was to Pacifica’s Debbie Mastergeorge, who eventually scored.

With one out, Eubanks walked Mastergeorge on four pitches and she advanced to second on Shawna Goessling’s sacrifice bunt.

Leadoff batter Dara Webb then slapped at a 1-2 pitch, and blooped a single into left field that hung in the air long enough to drive in Mastergeorge from second.

“It was definitely seeing-eye baseball,” Pacifica Coach Rob Weil said. “But we executed well to get her to second base.”

Pacifica’s only other hit off Eubanks came in the fourth on a hard-hit grounder that went off second baseman Sara Mesa’s glove.

“Eubanks looked fantastic,” Kennedy Coach Sue Hall said. “I want the headline tomorrow to say we lost on a walk and a Texas League hit.”

Kennedy (2-3) had several scoring opportunities, but the Mariners stopped them, as pitcher Jessica Soto kept her pitches down and induced 13 groundouts.

“Our defense has been our strong point,” Weil said. “But we haven’t been able to show that in the past years with Amanda Freed on the mound. Jessica lets them put the ball in play and our defense executes.”