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 Poly is sponsored by Bryson Financial.
The562’s coverage of Lakewood Athletics is sponsored by J.P. Crawford, Class of 2013.
It looks like the Lakewood Lancers are playing their best softball at the best time.
On Monday at Joe Rodgers Stadium, Lakewood secured its second place spot in the Moore League standings with an impressive 6-3 win over Long Beach Poly.
Lakewood pitcher Star Tapia went the distance while scattering seven hits and striking out four after senior Madylyn Wynia gave her a 3-0 lead with a bases-clearing double in the first inning.
“We’re just playing for each other at this point,” Wynia said. “Whatever anyone else says, we really don’t care, we’re just here for each other. We’re coming together and we’re all in this together.”
In the top of the first inning, Izzy Rueda led off with a walk and Cat Calzada singled before Kaytlyn Lewis was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Wynia brought them all in to score with a one-out double in the gap.
“She’s a good kid and good leader,” Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes said of Wynia. “She’s just staying composed. I think she was pressing a little early on in the season, but now she’s relaxed. Scoring those three was probably the key to our victory.”
Tapia worked the outside of the plate to limit the power at the top of the Poly lineup, but ran into some trouble in the third inning with a few walks and a run scored. Miramontes called a timeout with the bases loaded to remind his pitcher that she has a whole team behind her ready to play defense. Tapia responded with a strikeout to end the threat.
“I kind of lost my focus, but my team having my back was the thing that clicked me back into place,” Tapia said.
In the fifth inning, Lakewood pushed its lead to 5-1 with an RBI single from Tapia that scored Calzada. Poly responded in the bottom of the frame with three straight singles from Ki’ele Ho-Ching, Emoni Lam Sam and Janelle Morris to make it 5-2.
Rueda’s double and Lewis’ infield single with two outs made it 6-3 in the top of the seventh.
Tiare Ho-Ching’s triple and her sister’s RBI single in the bottom of the seventh gave Poly some life, but Calzada turned a double play to end the game.
“We’re coming together towards the end,” Miramontes said. “Star did a great job. That’s probably the best game I’ve seen her pitch this year, and maybe ever. She was on from the get go. With some good defense and some timely hitting, that’s just a great team win all the way around.”
Millikan has the Moore League title clinched, but Lakewood can keep their rivals from completing the undefeated league campaign when they meet on Wednesday in the regular season finale.
Wynia said her team needs a fast start to beat Millikan.
“In my four years we’ve only beaten them twice, I think, so even though they clinched (the league title) for us that doesn’t matter,” Wynia said. “Beating them is what matters.”
“We just need to go out there and play hard,” Miramontes added. “(Millikan) is beatable, even though some people think they’re unbeatable. We just need to be the best version of ourselves. I don’t care (about undefeated season for the Rams) I just want to beat Millikan no matter what.”
Lakewood was the last undefeated Moore League champion in 2017.
CIF Southern Section softball brackets will be released on April 27.
