With seven games down, Santa Monica High School’s softball team heads into its last three games with a perfect 7-0 record.
On April 4, Samohi destroyed rival Beverly Hills 16-0. The game was called short after five innings because of the mercy rule.
The win marked the seventh shut out in a row against league opponents giving Vikings a commanding 95-0 score in the Ocean League and a 20-5 overall record. The victory boat is taking Coach Debbie Skaggs’ team toward its fifth straight league championship and a CIF playoff berth.
After a slow start with one run in the first inning, Hayley Condon started the Vikings pillaging with a lonesome home run in the second inning. The slaughter went wild in the third inning when the Vikings scored ten runs.
Although the Vikings’ clubs we hot, it was junior Natalie Abel who lead the team from the mound, keeping their opponents dead at the plate by allowing only one hit in five innings.
Samohi’s shutouts are nothing out of the norm. The team has been dominant in Ocean League softball it annually wins the championship.
In recent years, Culver City has been the second place team. The Centaurs haven’t presented a challenge to beat the Vikings, but usually make the score respectable.
The two teams went head to head on April 27 in the Santa Monica-Culver City competition. Samohi won, 7-0.
After the game, Natalie Abel, the Vikings’ leading batter, was at .615 with only 13 at-bats. She had eight hits and seven RBI.
With many more at-bats. Kaile Nakao was batting .424, Holly Elander .400 and star pitcher Celisha Walker .383.
MITCH CHORTKOFF
Mirror Sports Editorsports@smmirror.com
