Sports
Prep swept away by Poly
Softball: Rebels lose second in as many days to rivals to finish league in second place.
By Dylan Kruse
PASADENA — Just 24 hours after losing out on a chance to win a Prep League championship outright due to a loss to Pasadena Poly, the Flintridge Prep softball team entered Thursday’s rematch with new life and the hope of earning a split of the league title.
Unfortunately for the Rebels, part two of the Prep-Poly series turned out much the same as the first.
Despite finding their own offensive groove, four defensive errors and some clutch Panthers hitting proved to be the Rebels’ downfall in a 10-6 road loss in both teams’ regular season finale.
“The big difference today was errors,” said Prep Coach Julie Jaime, whose club fell to Poly, 10-2, at home on Wednesday. “I know our pitcher went two in a row and there’s, I think went three in a row, and that’s just hard to do. …We put up the hits, we’ve just got to keep it down with the errors.”
While Poly (13-9, 10-2) sewed up its 25th title in the past 26 seasons, Prep (12-7, 8-4) fell into a tie for second place with Mayfield (13-8-1, 8-4).
While both Prep, which missed the postseason the last two year’s, and Mayfield have locked up spots in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, a coin flip will be held at 10 a.m. today to determine who will enter the pairings as the No. 2 and 3 seeds. The CIF pairings will be announced on Monday.
The quick turnaround between the two games didn’t allow for any time to dwell on the previous game and that was just fine with Prep.
“That’s the great thing is you get a clean slate the next day,” Jaime said. “You get to go at them and that’s what we did.”
In the first inning, it was the Panthers who pounced on the Rebels. Poly pieced together four singles, a walk and two wild pitches to score four early runs and take a 4-0 lead.
In all, Poly totaled 13 hits, with seven players driving in runs.
But Prep didn’t panic after the first frame, instead roaring right back in the top of the second.
Annie Zaro drew a one-out walk and Alina Okamoto, who finished two for three with a run batted in, and Kaitlin French followed with singles.
On French’s hit, Poly tried to gun down Zaro at third base, but the throw bounded out of play, allowing Zaro and Okamoto to score, slashing the lead to 4-2.
Two batters later, shortstop Alina Khodadian, who finished two for four, plated French with a single to center field. Kari Van Horn tied up the game at 4 when her single scored Khodadian and put the Rebels right back in it.
“They went ahead early, but we came right back and that’s just the fight and character we have,” Jaime said.
But that’s as close as Prep would get the rest of the game, as Poly scored two in the second to reclaim the lead for good.
The Rebels were able to tack on a run in the third on an Okamoto RBI double and tallied another in the seventh after loading the bases when Emma Vine scored Ashley Wood on a groundout, but that was where the rally ended.
Rebels hurler Lydia Kay (10-6, 7-4), who pitched admirably on Thursday after being drilled with two separate hard line drives in Wednesday’s loss, went the distance in defeat.
Now, the Rebels, who lost four of five to end the regular season, turn their attention to the playoffs, where they hope they can right the ship.
“We’ve got to hit the ball because I’m sure we’ll see some quality pitching,” Jaime said. “And just minimize our errors. That had been a strength earlier in the season.”
Unfortunately for the Rebels, part two of the Prep-Poly series turned out much the same as the first.
Despite finding their own offensive groove, four defensive errors and some clutch Panthers hitting proved to be the Rebels’ downfall in a 10-6 road loss in both teams’ regular season finale.
“The big difference today was errors,” said Prep Coach Julie Jaime, whose club fell to Poly, 10-2, at home on Wednesday. “I know our pitcher went two in a row and there’s, I think went three in a row, and that’s just hard to do. …We put up the hits, we’ve just got to keep it down with the errors.”
While Poly (13-9, 10-2) sewed up its 25th title in the past 26 seasons, Prep (12-7, 8-4) fell into a tie for second place with Mayfield (13-8-1, 8-4).
While both Prep, which missed the postseason the last two year’s, and Mayfield have locked up spots in the CIF Southern Section playoffs, a coin flip will be held at 10 a.m. today to determine who will enter the pairings as the No. 2 and 3 seeds. The CIF pairings will be announced on Monday.
The quick turnaround between the two games didn’t allow for any time to dwell on the previous game and that was just fine with Prep.
“That’s the great thing is you get a clean slate the next day,” Jaime said. “You get to go at them and that’s what we did.”
In the first inning, it was the Panthers who pounced on the Rebels. Poly pieced together four singles, a walk and two wild pitches to score four early runs and take a 4-0 lead.
In all, Poly totaled 13 hits, with seven players driving in runs.
But Prep didn’t panic after the first frame, instead roaring right back in the top of the second.
Annie Zaro drew a one-out walk and Alina Okamoto, who finished two for three with a run batted in, and Kaitlin French followed with singles.
On French’s hit, Poly tried to gun down Zaro at third base, but the throw bounded out of play, allowing Zaro and Okamoto to score, slashing the lead to 4-2.
Two batters later, shortstop Alina Khodadian, who finished two for four, plated French with a single to center field. Kari Van Horn tied up the game at 4 when her single scored Khodadian and put the Rebels right back in it.
“They went ahead early, but we came right back and that’s just the fight and character we have,” Jaime said.
But that’s as close as Prep would get the rest of the game, as Poly scored two in the second to reclaim the lead for good.
The Rebels were able to tack on a run in the third on an Okamoto RBI double and tallied another in the seventh after loading the bases when Emma Vine scored Ashley Wood on a groundout, but that was where the rally ended.
Rebels hurler Lydia Kay (10-6, 7-4), who pitched admirably on Thursday after being drilled with two separate hard line drives in Wednesday’s loss, went the distance in defeat.
Now, the Rebels, who lost four of five to end the regular season, turn their attention to the playoffs, where they hope they can right the ship.
“We’ve got to hit the ball because I’m sure we’ll see some quality pitching,” Jaime said. “And just minimize our errors. That had been a strength earlier in the season.”
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