Tossing her third shutout in four playoff games, Redondo southpaw Kat Ung is one win away from capping off an impressive four-year varsity career with an elusive CIF softball title.
Yet Ung, who will likely be an All-CIF selection for a third straight year, is quick to pass any kudos off to her teammates despite tossing a two-hitter while striking out 10 batters in a 1-0 home victory over second-seeded Bishop Amat on Tuesday in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 semifinals..
“It’s not just me on the field,” Ung said. “A pitcher just helps the team stay in the game. You have to trust your defense and offense to win the game.”
Ung led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a double but her pinch runner was thrown out at home following Allison Betty’s single to center field.
A single by Samantha Pech moved Betty to third who scored on a groundout by Tatyana Rosen, providing Ung the only run she would need.
Redondo (23-9) will face top-seeded Grand Terrace (27-1) in the championship game Friday at 4:30 p.m. at Deanna Manning Stadium in Colonel Bill Barber Park in Irvine.
It marks the first time since 1994 that Redondo has reached the championship game and the Sea Hawks hope their momentum of winning closes games carries over into the final contest.
After defeating St. Joseph/Lakewood 1-0 and Mayfair 2-0, Redondo needed some last-inning heroics in last Thursday’s quarterfinal game.
Redondo coach Jennifer Dessert knew her girls would have to improve their run production if they had any hopes of upsetting third-seeded Gahr.
Trailing 4-1, Redondo scored four runs in the top of the seventh inning for a dramatic victory highlighted by Samantha Pech’s three-run home run, giving Dessert what she called one of the greatest wins in her 13-year tenure as head coach of the Sea Hawks.
“All the components you want to see as a fan in the stands happened,” Dessert said. “To say I’m proud of these girls is an understatement.”
Redondo drew first blood when Gayle Wilson’s RBI double gave the Sea Hawks a 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning but Gahr answered in the bottom of the frame when Madison Huskey hit a solo home run to tie the score.
Huskey’s second homerun of the game in the bottom of the sixth gave the Gladiator’s a 4-1 lead but Dessert believed in her team as it was wearing down Gahr’s sophomore pitcher Danielle Martinez.Heading into the final inning, the momentum appeared to be in Gahr’s favor. Redondo had loaded the bases with two outs in the top of the sixth inning but Elena Ceja’s deep fly ball was caught at the left field fence.
“I have had teams that have let down before but the mental toughness from last year to this one has been phenomenal,” Dessert said. “This team showed how much we really want it. After we didn’t score with bases loaded I had to pump them up to stand tall and not let down. We’ve scored four runs in an inning before.”
McKenna Villiagrana-Zayas began Redondo’s rally with a lead-off single but the next two batters made outs putting the Sea Hawk’s season on the line.
Ung fought off 10 pitches to draw a walk. Then Allison Betty’s RBI single to right field closed the gap at 4-2. Swinging at the first pitch, Pech hammered a home run over the centerfield fence to put Redondo ahead 5-4.
“I knew we were in a good position when Kat walked,” Dessert said. “She just had this look on her face like ‘Yea that’s right.’ I knew something awesome was going to happen because Allison Betty and Samantha Pech have been clutch for us all year.”
Ung said her focus was so intent on getting on base that she didn’t realize it was the last inning of regulation.
“It was my fourth at bat to I knew what to expect from their pitcher,” Ung said. “She had thrown me all outside pitches and I just kept fouling them off until I got the walk.”
On Saturday at the same venue in Irvine, longtime Pioneer League rivals North Torrance and defending champion Torrance will square off in 10 a.m. game for the CIF-SS Division 4 Championship.
North (28-6-1) and Torrancr (25-9) were co-champions of the Pioneer League this season and played for the CIF title in 2008 when North emerged with a 2-1 victory.
