The562’s coverage of Long Beach Wilson Athletics is sponsored by Joel Bitonio, Class of 2009
Neither strong wind, unexpected illness nor high expectations could hinder Millikan ace Lauren Cantwell on Tuesday at Joe Rodgers Stadium. The senior pitcher battled through her one-hit complete game shutout performance and led the Rams to a 3-0 win over Wilson.
Cantwell said that she woke up on Tuesday with a fever, headache and sore throat but never considered missing practice or the game because, “My team needs me.”
“Right now I feel horrible,” Cantwell said after the game while bundled in her letterman’s jacket. “(During the game) I was just trying to focus on the pitching. I was just saying to myself, ‘One more, gotta keep going.’”
Cantwell allowed one hit to Wilson’s Sacha Zalamea and walked leadoff hitter Charlotte White while striking out 10 batters.
“I didn’t expect that today, yesterday she looked terrible in practice, and she’s pretty much highly medicated right now,” Millikan coach Michelle Lehr said. “I’m happy she was able to pull through and pitch a really good game while not feeling 100 percent.”
Cantwell has struck out 36 batters in the three league games against Lakewood, Poly and Wilson. She has only allowed five hits and walked three in those complete-game performances. The senior has yet to allow an extra base hit in league play.
“She threw a gem,” said Lehr, who called for a lot of fastballs early to keep it simple for Cantwell. “Her rise ball wasn’t really rising in the first inning. I thought that maybe she didn’t really have the strength to really spin the ball up. It takes a little bit more leg drive, but by the second inning it was back. Just took a while to warm up.”
Wilson got a quality start from pitcher Alexsa Barrera (7 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, BB, HBP) while the Rams scored all of their runs in the first four innings.
Junior Riley McAndrew led off the second inning with a single and moved to third base with two outs. Lauryn Kim then drew a walk and started to take second, so that drew a throw. As the Bruins tried to get Kim in a rundown between first and second, McAndrew came home. The tag on Kim and McAndrew touching home was a bang-bang play, and the initial call by the home plate umpire was that the out was recorded before the run scored. But Lehr asked the home umpire to ask for help, and the field umpire overturned the call to count the run and give the Rams a 1-0 lead.
Millikan scored twice in the fourth inning when the table was set by junior Addy Everrett getting hit by a pitch and McAndrew hitting a single. Senior Ella Burleson and Julia Dizon provided the RBI singles.
