Prep can’t earn CIF win
Flintridge Prep softball Coach Julie Jaime didn’t know much about Paraclete other than it featured a strong lineup.
Jaime then saw firsthand how strong the lineup could be.
Flintridge Prep saw its season come to a close May 18, as Paraclete scored four runs in the fifth inning to earn a 4-1 victory in a CIF Southern Section Division V wild-card game.
“They had some little bloopers and some big hits, and it wasn’t a good combination for us,” Jaime said. “Paraclete has got a good hitting team.
“Unfortunately, we had that one bad inning, and it always seems to come in the fourth or fifth inning.”
The Rebels finished up at 10-11, taking third in the Prep League and advancing to the postseason for the third season in a row.
The Spirits (13-12), who received an at-large berth out of the Olympic League, saw Flintridge Prep starting pitcher Denise van der Goot (7-7) hold them to two hits through four innings.
Then Paraclete, which trailed, 1-0, turned things around in the fifth against the junior pitcher.
With two outs and Kamryn Williams on second, Katie Anderus tripled down the left-field line to tie the score at 1. The relay throw to try to get Anderus skipped off her leg and the ball rolled out of play. Anderus was awarded home plate to give the Spirits a 2-1 lead.
Paraclete wasn’t done against van der Goot. Breanna Atkinson walked before Kaylie Atkinson lofted a two-run home run to center to make it 4-1.
“I lost focus after walking that one batter, and that led to the home run,” said van der Goot, who finished with 11 strikeouts. “I had to get my mind set, and I wish I could have changed some things around.”
Flintridge Prep took a 1-0 lead in the fourth.
Ashley Kim led off with a single against Paraclete starting pitcher Savannah Gutierrez and moved to second on a grounder. Abbey Deckop then singled to center, and Kim stopped at third. The throw to the plate was stopped by the catcher, who tried to throw out Deckop trying to reach second. On the throw to cut down Deckop, Kim scampered home.
“I was excited that we got that run because we had worked hard for that,” Jaime said. “Denise was doing a great job, and then that home run took a little wind out of our sail.”
Gutierrez limited Flintridge Prep to five hits, including a team-best two from Marisa Wang. The Rebels, seeking their first playoff victory since 2005, also received a hit from Emma Vine.