Despite being without its starting middle infield, Wilson went to Lakewood on Tuesday and dominated in a 9-3 victory to open the Moore League softball season.
Wilson (5-2, 1-0) was led by the battery of junior pitcher Hailey Houston and freshman catcher Juliana “JJ” Babore. Houston pitched a complete game with 11 strikeouts, while Babore hit two home runs in her league debut.
“We know this year we’re a very competitive team and we have all of the pieces,” Houston said. “We felt pretty confident coming in. We thought we could do it.”
The Bruins were without shortstop Sydney Freijanes and second baseman Isabel Orduno, but Ava Trachta and Star Chapman stepped in to fill those roles, respectively. They didn’t make and error and Trachta cleared the bases in a decisive fifth inning.
“It’s a mix of hard work and teamwork from the whole team,” Babore said. “Every single player is important, even if you don’t see them on the field. They are a crucial element to the team.”
Houston was dominant from the first pitch and only allowed one hit in the first six innings. Only four balls left the field for Lakewood (3-2, 0-1) and in the second inning, the junior righty struck out the heart of the Lancers lineup in order.
“Our game plan was to go right at them and let them see as few pitches as possible,” Houston said.
Babore noted that once she saw Houston’s rise ball was on point, she knew, “It’s very obvious that we’re going to do well in the game. I mean, you can’t hit her rise ball.”
“Hailey was wonderful,” Wilson coach George Molina said. “We were going to mix it up and change some speeds when we can. I’m really happy for her.”
Babore gave her pitcher a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning when she pulled a ball down the left field line. The freshman drew a 10-pitch walk in the second inning, and pulled multiple foul balls down that line. This one got past the left fielder and kept rolling without a fence at Lakewood High. Babore beat the late relay throw for a home run.
“I wasn’t looking at the ball, I was looking for my coach,” Babore said. “But I heard all of the girls screaming, obviously.”
Wilson senior Sinclair Lawhorn got hit with a pitch to leadoff the fifth inning. After singles by Houston and sophomore Leah Pettway loaded the bases, Trachta brought them all home with a shot to center field to put the Bruins up 4-0.
Left fielder Kaden Marsee drew a walk to chase Lakewood starter Cassie Camou, and Babore greeted freshman reliever Laci Berecochea with a hard shot into the left center field gap. The ball was still rolling as she rounded second and Babore came around to score easily for her second home run.
“I’m getting used to it and I just try to keep my composure for the team,” Babore said of playing at the high school level. “All of my team was there to great me (after the second home run) so that was really pleasant.”
Houston also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh, but gave up a two-run home run to Lakewood catcher Kendall Lundberg after an error and an RBI single from freshman shortstop Natalie Lopez in the bottom of the seventh.
“They beat us in all aspects,” Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes said. “Pitching, hitting, defense and cheering. They beat us all the way around. We came out kind of flat, but hats off to Houston. She pitched a great game. We aren’t going to win a lot of games if we don’t put the ball in play.”
WILSON
Juliana Babore: 3 H, 2 HR, 4 RBIs, 3 R, BB
Hailey Houston: 7 IP, 6 H, ER, 11 K, 2 BB (H, RBI, R, BB)
Sinclair Lawhorn: 4 BB
Leah Pettway: 2 H, R
Ava Trachta: H, 3 RBI, R
LAKEWOOD
Kendall Lundberg: HR, 3 RBIs, R
Natalie Lopez: H, RBI
Cassie Camou: 4 IP, 4 ER, 3 K, 8 BB
Brooklynn Baruch: H, BB
