SOFTBALL
Dos Pueblos Makes Big Plays With Bat, Glove to Get Past San Marcos, 5-4
Bella Nuño belts two-run homer, Leila Chisholm makes great catch in left field to help Chargers extend lead in Channel League
Leila Chisholm had two hits for Dos Pueblos and scored a run in a 5-4 win over San Marcos. (Felipe Garcia / Noozhawk photo )
By Barry Punzal, Noozhawk Sports Editor | @NoozhawkSports April 14, 2022
Big hits, clutch pitches and a game-changing defensive play were the ingredients that put Dos Pueblos closer to a Channel League softball title on Thursday.
In a rain make-up game, the Chargers escaped with a 5-4 victory over rival San Marcos at Okinaka Field.
The win gives Dos Pueblos (10-1) a two-game lead over the defending champion Royals (8-3) and Lompoc (9-3).
Bella Nuño, Lacy Spear, Mia Reveles and Jessica Reveles provided the big hits for the Chargers.
Pitching with a 4-1 lead, DP’s Georgia Wilson came up with big pitches when she needed them the in fifth inning and got a huge play from her left fielder.
With Bella Cruz at third base and Emma Foster at second for San Marcos with no outs. Wilson induced a ground ball to third that Nuño fielded cleanly, held Cruz at third and fired to first for out No. 1.The next batter grounded back to Wilson and the third out came on a brilliant play by left fielder Leila Chisholm.
Kamila Morales belted a high drive to the fence, but Chisholm, a standout on the Channel League-champion basketball team, ran it down and made an incredible catch at the fence.
“Oh my God, that was a game saver, literally a game saver,” said Wilson of Chisholm’s catch. “She is the best. I wouldn’t want anybody else out there with that.”
DP coach Mike Gerken was blown away by Chisholm’s stellar defensive play.
“That’s one of the best catches I’ve seen in all my years here at DP at a big moment,” he said. “It’s funny because before the game we do that drill every day. I threw one (to the fence) and I’m like, ‘I hope we don’t need that one today.’ That drill, I guess, paid off.”
Gerken also coached Chisholm in basketball.
Dos Pueblos catcher Riley Monroe tries to tag a sliding Gigi Gritt of San Marcos. She was called safe. (Felipe Garcia / Noozhawk photo )
“Lelia is a great athlete. She gets a great jump on the ball and she’s fast. And all those things were required for her to make that catch.”
San Marcos assistant coach Sean Early, filling in for head coach Jeff Swann who was out of town for work, was amazed by the “Willie Mays’ back-over-the shoulder catch” by Chisholm.
“It was beautiful,” he said. “It’s great. That’s how these games always are. They’re dogfights and it’s fun. All these girls know each other. A lot of the coaches have coached each other’s kids growing up. I think my wife has coached every kid on DP through the Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association.”
San Marcos scored first in the game. With two on and one out, Morales lined out to second. The Chargers tried to double-up Caitlyn Early at first, but the throw was too hard and got away, allowing Gritt to score, sliding in ahead of the tag by DP coacher Riley Monroe
Nuño got Dos Pueblos going in the bottom of the third with a towering two-run homer over the left-field fence. She brought in Chisholm who led off with a single.
San Marcos changed pitchers after the homer, bringing in Kate Guerra to replace Gritt, who moved to the catcher position.
Spear made it 3-1 game, hitting a two-out single in the third to drive in Jessica Reveles, who reached on an error and stole second.
San Marcos made a nice defensive play before the Chargers struck again in the fourth. The Royals executed a left field-to-shortstop-to-catcher relay to nail Chisholm at home as she tried to score from first on a double by Nuño.
“There’s a bunch of gamers on that team,” said Gerken of San Marcos. “I was especially impressed with their outfield play. Some of those girls had some great throws from the outfield, some of the best throws I’ve seen year.”
Dos Pueblos made it 4-1 as Mia Reveles hit a dunker over the second to score Nuño.
Back-to-back doubles by Monroe to right center and Jessica Reveles to left gave the Chargers a 5-1 leads after five innings.
“They’re pounding the ball,” said coach Early. “They’re just good. Their lineup is solid, they hit well. I’ve got a good lineup as well, but they’re probably a little bit more talented, especially in the lower part of the lineup.”
Wilson loves the offensive support she beens getting.
Nuno finished 2-4, Mia Reveles was 3-3 and Leila Chisholm went 2-3.
“I know my lineup has my back. It’s been great,” she said.
San Marcos gave the Chargers a scare in the seventh. Kayla Aguilar and Bella Cruz hit back-to-back singles, Gritt ripped a one-out double to drive in Aguilar and a Caitlyn Early grounder scored Cruz to make it 5-3.
Morales singled over second base to score Gritt and make it a one-run game.
But Wilson kept her composure and struck out the next batter to end the game and get the important victory.
Emma Foster, Gritt and Cruz each had two hits for San Marcos.