In the 22 innings that spanned two rounds of playoff softball, the Lakewood Lancers held their opponents scoreless while struggling to score themselves.  Yesterday in the quarterfinals at Etiwanda High, it was the same old story with one difference, and that difference’s name is Melissa Taukeiaho.

The freshman third baseman’s two-run home run in the fourth, and RBI triple in the sixth, was all the Eagle offense as Etiwanda ended the Lakewood softball season, 3-0.  The Lancers had multiple times to get on the board, but like the first two playoff games, couldn’t push one across.

“We out hit them, but just couldn’t cash in the chips when we had ‘em” said Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes.  “It’s a tough loss, but I’m not going to dwell on it.  Unfortunately we didn’t get the timely hits you need to win these close playoff games… one hit here of there, who knows?  The better team won today.”

The game started the way most good playoff games start: with good pitching and solid defense.  Senior Justine Avalos stepped back into the circle for Lakewood with a game plan, and it worked to perfection the first trip through the order. 

In the first three innings, a ball didn’t leave the infield as Avalos used her natural curve ball to get the Eagles reaching.  Facing a predominantly right handed lineup, she stayed up and away and got back-to-back strikeouts in the second, back-to-back grounders back to the circle in the third, and a great diving stop from second baseman Devon Mercurio to cap it off.

For the Eagles, pitcher Natalee Pulver used more defense like when left fielder Crystal Tarango ended the first inning with a diving catch on a line drive from Eliza Crawford.  In the second inning, Arielle Palafox and Sarah Carrasco led off with back-to-back singles.  But Shawnee Kirk’s bunt attempt came back to Pulver, and she got the lead runner at third— then Diane Leider’s ground ball started the 4-6-3 double play.

The Lancers put two runners on again in the fourth inning when Palafox and Carrasco singled.  But again, off a Kirk ground ball the Eagles got the lead runner, and Pulver got the ground out to get out of the jam. 

In the bottom of the fourth, Tera Vaughn led off with a four-pitch walk, and that brought up Taukeiaho.  The freshman watched Avalos continue to work up and out, and ran the count to 2-1.  Avalos went back to the well again, and Taukeiaho went the other way with an absolute shot into the right/center field gap.  There are no fences at Etiwanda, so the ball just kept rolling as Vaughn and Taukeiaho came around to score to make it 2-0.

“It was a nice pitch, but I saw it coming and I just went for it,” said Taukeiaho, who added the third run of the game with a triple that was almost identical to the home run— same pitch, same swing, same placement in right/center, and nearly the same result.  “I just go with pitches, that’s how I’ve been successful.” Taukeiaho had seven home runs in league play, and has two in the playoffs.

Still only down 2-0 in the sixth, Lakewood’s Crawford came up for the third time after lining out twice to Tarango and Taukeiaho.  She fell behind 0-2 to Pulver, who was in a rhythm at that point, but battled and fouled off three tough pitches to run the count full.  On the 3-2 pitch Crawford sent a line drive to the left side that looked like it was headed into left field, but senior shortstop Elizabeth Santana made an incredible diving catch to effectively end the Lancers chances at a rally.

“Before this season I wasn’t sure we had the pitching,” said Miramontes.  “But that was not the case.  We could pitch with anyone, we just didn’t get the clutch hits.  I always expect the girls to win, but this team came on and finished strong… this is just a good group of kids.  They’re good in the classroom, good teammates… it’s too bad we graduate so many senior leaders, but I’m looking forward to next season.”

Pitchers
Avalos: 6IP, 3ER, 4H, 3K (2-for-3, 2 singles)
Pulver: 7IP, 0ER, 6H, K

Offense
Taukeiaho: 2-for-3, 3RBI, HR, Triple
Vaughn: 1-for-2, BB, 2R
Palafox: 2-for-3, 2 singles
Carrasco: 2-for-3, 2 singles, HBP

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