Goodchild’s Slam Caps ECR Rout

The drought is over for Jacqui Goodchild of El Camino Real High.

In her final at-bat of her last game on the Woodland Hills campus, the senior shortstop ripped her first career home run and put the finishing touch on the Conquistadores’ 8-0 victory over Banning on Thursday in a City Championship quarterfinal.

“I’ve never hit a home run in high school,” said Goodchild, a four-year starter. “That was my one goal for this year.”

It couldn’t have been more grand.

With the bases loaded in the sixth, Goodchild turned on an inside pitch and ripped a low liner between the first baseman and the foul line, rounded the bases and crossed home plate before the cut-off throw reached the infield.

“She’s the straw that stirs the drink,” Coach Neils Ludlow said.

Junior right-hander Melissa Coogan left the Pilots (16-10) parched, tossing a one-hitter and striking out eight. Coogan, who pitched a perfect game Tuesday against Venice in the first round, walked one and hit a batter.

Thanks to double plays in the second and fourth, Coogan (20-3) faced just two batters over the minimum.

El Camino Real (22-4-1), which plays Carson in a semifinal on Tuesday at South Gate Park, had nine hits off left-hander Angie Rossi (5-5).

The defending City champion Conquistadores have outscored two playoff opponents, 16-0, but Ludlow isn’t taking any opponent for granted.

“I don’t care how many times you do this,” said Ludlow, a 16-year veteran. “It’s never in the bank.”

Lily Landers drove in the Conquistadores’ first three runs with opposite-field singles in the first and third.

Christina Enea, who had two hits, hit a solo home run in the fifth for a 4-0 lead.

El Camino Real’s Kelly Lombard had two hits.