San Marino High softball puts it all together for win over La Cañada

SAN MARINO — It appeared La Cañada High softball team had the fast start Thursday, but San Marino just as quickly quadrupled that tally.

The fourth-ranked Titans in CIF Southern Section Division IV came out swinging and turned a one-run deficit into a three-run lead in the bottom of the first inning of a Rio Hondo League game with the Spartans at San Marino High.

PHOTOS: San Marino vs. La Cañada girls’ softball

That would be all standout San Marino pitcher Michelle Floyd, who will play at the University of Arizona next year, would need, but the Titans had more in store in their 10-2 win.

San Marino Coach Mitch Dimkich, whose team had eight hits, one error and received quality pitching, said his team put it all together for the win.

“I think we kind of took the wind out of their sails a little bit,” Dimkich said of his team’s four-run outburst in the first inning. “It was a great offensive and great defensive effort.”

The win keeps league title hopes alive for the Titans (9-4-1, 2-2 in league) with the fourth-ranked Spartans (7-2, 3-1) still in the driver’s seat. It also helped San Marino atone for a 9-1 loss to Monrovia in its previous game on March 22.

Temple City had a chance to match La Cañada’s record coming into Thursday’s game with Monrovia with a 7-6, 2-1 record.

Raquel Edmonds and Larissa Phillips were the most dangerous hitters Thursday. They combined for five hits and six runs batted in at the fourth and fifth spots in the Titans’ lineup, respectively. San Marino also drew nine walks — five intentional free passes to Floyd.

“We deeply wanted this win,” said Edmonds, who broke the radius bone in her wrist about a week ago. “They’re the ones we’re looking for, especially after these previous years with them and us. We’ve always been the top contenders and they’re the ones to beat.”

Floyd held a formidable La Cañada lineup in check. She struck out seven batters, gave up six hits and three walks for the complete-game victory.

“The team has worked very hard this week and I think it showed out there defensively and offensively — good hitting,” Dimkich said. “We let Michelle do the rest; that’s it. She holds them and we’ve got to get the runs and play defense for her, which we didn’t do last week.”

La Cañada struck first in top of the first inning. Katy Lee started the Spartans’ offense when she drove a pitch over the left fielder for a one-out double. A passed ball and Annie Monroe groundout scored Lee for a quick 1-0 lead.

After San Marino’s first three batters reached base; on a walk, hit batter and Allison Lee single; Edmonds and Phillips went to work.

Edmonds (two for four, three RBI) laced a two-run single past the shortstop and Phillips (three for four, three RBI) promptly doubled in two more with a liner over short to give the home team a 4-1 advantage.

The duo increased the lead to five in the second inning. Just like the first frame, it started with an intentional walk to Floyd, San Marino’s leadoff hitter. A Caitlyn Callahan single and passed ball put runners on second and third and consecutive singles from Edmonds and Phillips scored both of them to put the score at 6-1.

“They had real timely hits,” Spartans Coach KC Mathews said. “Every time they had a runner in scoring position they cashed in, that’s a pretty good recipe for success.”

Jessica Ogden (two for three) brought La Cañada’s deficit to four in the fourth with a RBI single to left field that scored Aubri Thompson, who reached on a one-out double and moved to third on a Brenna Gay single.

Phillips got the run back in the bottom half when she doubled off the left-field fence and scored after two wild pitches.

After the game, Phillips was happy to reflect on what her team had accomplished against a storied program like La Cañada.

“I know all the girls are so happy to have played them and played so well against them,” she said. “This is by far the best game we’ve played this season.”

For La Cañada, its focus now shifts to spring break.

“A game like this, you just forget about it,” Mathews said. “It’s great, we’re going into spring break — a good time to wash away a game like that. I’m not worried.”