The562’s high school softball coverage is sponsored by Playmakers. Visit LetsBePlaymakers.org for more information on their adaptive sports programs.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009.
The562’s coverage of Long Beach Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial
Wilson softball and pitcher Emily Castano feel like they’ve been waiting a while for a marquee Moore League win after the Bruins racked up their fair share of agonizing late-inning losses.
The wait is over.
On Monday at Joe Rodgers Stadium, Castano pitched a complete game and freshman shortstop Sacha Zalamea drove in three runs during a 5-3 league win over Long Beach Poly.
“We needed this,” said Wilson coach George Molina. “I’m really proud of the girls, Poly is a tough team.”
Castano, who has been the Wilson ace for the last three years, worked hard in the offseason to add some off speed pitches to her repertoire. The senior struggled in the first two innings, but then got into a groove and scattered four hits over the last four scoreless innings.
“It’s an incredible relief especially after struggling to close out games strong in the past,” said Castano. “I felt like my legs were kind of weak, and they shouldn’t have been, and also the jitters of the first big Moore League game for us, so getting that out early enough to give us a shot was good. Just going up there and knowing I have a solid team behind me that can back me up and I shouldn’t worry.”
Zalamea had a fantastic league debut with an RBI triple in the first inning and a 2-RBI double in the third inning. Catcher Tallulah Watts also had an RBI sacrifice fly in the first, and Alexsa Barrera drove in an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning before Castano stranded the game-winning run at the plate in the seventh.
“We beared down,” said Molina of his team closing strongly. “Emily has been here four years, and she’s had some really good games. In the beginning her stuff really wasn’t there, and then she found her groove and found a bunch of pop ups. That’s a senior moment.”
Poly took an early lead thanks to walks and an error in the first inning, and then again on a 2-out RBI single from Ki’ele Ho-Ching, but then the Jackrabbits stranded seven runners over the last four innings.
“We needed to make the adjustments at bat,” said Poly coach Liz Sanches-Martin. “We had a couple of deep balls that on a normal field would’ve been (home runs) but you have to adjust given the environment that you’re playing in. We didn’t do that. We were still going for that deep, long home run ball when at 245 and 256 foot fence isn’t going to allow for that.”
Castano got 14 of her 21 outs on fly balls and pop outs.
“This was a good show of it, but yeah I hope to continue to keep using those pitches. I’m just trying to keep spinning the ball and keeping them off balance with the changeups, but (the pop ups) are what have helped me since sophomore year.”
Zalamea was the offensive star of the day for Wilson and she said she was a little nervous before the game but that, “I was just trying to have fun out here to help my team out.”
“I was trying to get the first pitch I wanted to see, middle in, and try to drive it up the middle as much as possible,” she added. “Just keep it simple and not trying to do something too big.”
Yates was the defensive star in left field after she tracked down a long fly ball in the fourth inning and came up to make another nice grab in the sixth.
“We play on a big field so I know I have to cover a lot of ground,” said Yates. “I was just running my heart out. I know if I miss it (White) is right there and the fence is right there. We’re just having fun trying to give 100 percent effort.”
On Tuesday, Wilson takes on Jordan before hosting Lakewood on Thursday.
