SANTA MONICA – Amid the banners, balloons, flowers and tears flowing to honor the five seniors before their last regular season game, the Samohi Vikings softball team put all their emotion and celebration aside and proceeded to defeat the Culver City Centaurs 10-0 in just five innings.
Senior Natalie Abel pitched brilliantly facing only one more batter than the minimum in the five innings. She allowed just two Centaur hitters to get on base, one of whom was thrown out by junior catcher Kelly Ricard when trying to steal third. Abel gave up only one hit and struck out six.
Abel also had a great day at the plate going three for three, driving in one run and scoring twice.
Senior Amanda Delgadillo contributed with a double that hit high on the right field fence, had one RBI and scored once herself.
Senior Meghan Bradley, the scrappy leadoff hitter and All-League player for the Vikings had two hits, scored twice and had an RBI. Senior Kelsey Hom, also an All-League player and who is headed to Brown University to play softball next year, added two hits and one RBI. Senior Jasmine Reynaga had a big hit and two RBI. Sophomore Jaime Hom went three-for-three from the plate with a run scored and an RBI.
Although this year was being considered a rebuilding year after losing nine players from last year, this year’s Samohi’s softball team performed beyond expectations by finishing the regular season 14-0 and 10-0 in league. They are headed into the upcoming CIF playoffs as one of the top seeded teams.
“We had a good year but there is still a long way to go and there are still some areas that need molding,” Coach Marybell Moreno said, “but I’m satisfied and I think we’re going to do well in the playoffs.”
CIF Division 4 playoffs begin for the Samohi Vikings softball team on Thurs. May 17. They won’t know who they will be playing until Monday when Coach Moreno expects to be notified by CIF officials.
