El Dorado Finds Way Around Kennedy

First-year El Dorado Coach Jill Matyuch couldn’t believe it when pinch-runner Nicole Baker, a junior called up from the junior varsity team this season, ran through Matyuch’s demand to stop at third base with none out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

But Baker scored, providing the only offense El Dorado needed Thursday to defeat Kennedy, 1-0, and take sole possession of first place in the Empire League.

It was the second time in two games that Kennedy, ranked 10th in Orange County, lost on a disputed game-ending play.

The Fighting Irish (14-9, 6-2), who have won six consecutive league championships, find themselves in an unfamiliar spot, second place, a game behind El Dorado with two to play.

The Golden Hawks (19-3, 7-1), No. 1 in the Southern Section Division II rankings, can win their first league title since 1976.

“I guess the coach was giving me the stop sign, but I didn’t see it,” Baker said. “I thought she was saying ‘Go,’ but there was so much noise.”

Said Matyuch: “I was yelling ‘Stop! Hold it right there!’ ”

Matyuch admitted she even reached out to grab Baker’s shirt, but missed. So, too, did Kennedy catcher Stephanie Wolter, who fielded a throw slightly up the line from center fielder Laura Ryan on Jessica Pitts’ single.

Baker ran inside the base path, arching her back, to avoid the tag.

“I didn’t touch her, but I thought [the umpire] might call her out for going inside the foul line,” Matyuch said. “Because [Baker] was able to slide and touch the base, I don’t think umpires could change their call.”

Kennedy Coach Sue Hall, still livid over a base umpire’s call she termed “unethical” in the Irish’s 1-0 loss to Loara on Tuesday that prevented Kennedy from tying that game, raised questions about Baker’s winning effort--the coach touching the player, the player running outside the base path to avoid the tag, the tag itself. The umpires huddled, then proclaimed the game over.

Winning pitcher Melissa Hobson (8-1), who gave up three hits, opened the eighth with a soft fly to center field that was dropped by the shortstop. Baker, pinch-running, was immediately warned by the first base coach not to get picked off. A pitch later, Baker was picked off. However, a rare obstruction was called against the right fielder, Christen Fien, who slipped in behind Baker to take the pickoff throw and apply the tag.

Baker was awarded second base, and Pitts, who had just failed to bunt successfully, hit the next pitch to center field, scoring Baker.

“If you’re going to run a stop sign against Kennedy,” Matyuch said, “you’d better be safe.”

In another Empire League game:

Loara 7, Katella 0--Alicia Owen had three hits and two RBIs and combined with Katie Joosten, who entered the game in the fifth, to pitch a one-hitter for Loara (16-11, 5-3). Katella is 5-18, 0-8.