Sloppy Rebels fall at home
LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE — One of the goals for the Flintridge Prep softball team this season is to contend for the Prep League championship.
For that to happen, Flintridge Prep Coach Julie Jaime said the Rebels need to play crisp defense. While it’s only two games into the season, Jaime didn’t like what she saw from her team in that respect on Thursday afternoon.
Flintridge Prep committed six errors en route to a 14-4 nonleague home loss against Ramona Convent.
“We made some errors, a couple with two outs, and that’s nothing you want to let happen,” said Jaime, whose team fell to 1-1 after beginning the season Wednesday with an 8-5 nonleague win against visiting Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy. “That changes momentum and affects your confidence.
“We were not making the fundamental plays. I still think we have a shot at contending for league. We need to fix some things [on defense] and make some adjustments.”
The miscues began immediately in the top of the first inning. With runners on first and second and one out, Chandler Felipe singled to right field to bring home the first run. The ball skipped past the right fielder for an error to make it 2-0.
Flintridge Prep, which advanced to the playoffs last season, made two more errors in the second. The center fielder dropped a line drive that would have been the third out. After Ramona Convent (3-0) made it 3-0, a ground ball hit by Elie Manriquez went underneath the Flintridge Prep second baseman for a two-run error. An illegal pitch by Flintridge Prep starter Caitlin Gillman (0-1) extended Ramona Convent’s lead to 6-0.
“I think some of our youth was being shown,” Jaime said. “These are things that can be fixed and we will try to get better.
“I didn’t expect to give up 14 runs. It’s now about practice and taking this loss and learning from it.”
Flintridge Prep got on the board in its half of the second. Designated hitter Denise van der Goot hit a solo home run to left to cut the deficit to 6-1.
Ramona Convent, which finished with 15 hits, scored three runs in the third to make it 9-1. After the Tigers extended their lead to 10-1 in the fourth, the Rebels bounced back with a pair of runs in their half of the inning on an error and a ground out by Rachel Simon to close to within 10-3.
Flintridge Prep third baseman Abbey Deckop hit a solo home run to left in the seventh to close out the scoring.
The Rebels also received two hits from shortstop Kelly Wang.
