Going into her team’s quarterfinal game, Redondo softball coach Jennifer Dessert knew her girls would have to improve their run production if they had any hopes of upsetting third-seeded Gahr on the road in the CIF-Southern Section Division 3 playoffs.
Redondo had scored only three runs in their first two victories while Gahr had pushed across 24 runs in 13 innings of postseason play, but better late than never for the Sea Hawks.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
Kat 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.”
Gahr did not go down without a fight, starting the bottom of the seventh inning with its first two batters reaching base on an error and walk. Then Pech continued her heroics.
Pech dove behind the plate to catch a popped-up sacrifice bunt attempt for the first out and Ung took care of the rest with a strikeout and pop up.
Ung notched her third straight playoff win while recording eight strikeouts with one walk and one hit batter.
Ranked No. 6 in the final CIF-SS Division 3 poll, Redondo (22-9) will host second-seeded Bishop Amat (23-4) in the semifinals at 3:15 p.m. on Tuesday.
In Division 4, top-seeded North Torrance (27-6-1) recorded its second straight shutout defeating San Marcos 4-0 on Thursday and will play Santa Monica (15-8) in the semifinals. The Saxons have allowed only two runs in the playoffs.
Second-seeded and defending champion Torrance (24-9) defeated Ramona 14-4 and will play La Quinta (23-7) on Tuesday. The Tartars have outscored opponents 35-7 in three postseason games.
Brackets and results are available at cifss.org.
