May 16, 2008

Mott helps Carlmont beat Salinas

Pitcher stands tall in first round of section playoffs

By John Mylod / Daily News Correspondent

As a record heat wave hit the Bay Area, the Salinas softball team embarked on a two-hour bus ride north before taking on the Carlmont Scots in the first round of the Central Coast Section Div. I playoffs Thursday.

"I would never use the weather (as an excuse). Yeah, it's going to drain you," Salinas coach Greg Omoto said.

"We put that out of our minds when we left Salinas."

The Carlmont Scots trailed 1-0 for most of the afternoon before rallying for three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning in a 3-1 victory over Salinas.

"I was nervous," said Carlmont starting pitcher Jenna Mott. "It's my first CCS that I was actually playing in, so I was excited."

Pitching dominated a hot afternoon at Hawes Park in Redwood City.

In the top of the second inning, Salinas (13-13-1) put together three base hits with two outs. Mott struck out leadoff hitter Chelsea Williams to end the Cowboys' only rally of the day.

Salinas broke a scoreless tie with two outs in the top of the third inning.

After fouling off three two-strike pitches, pitcher Samantha Rodriquez hit a 2-2 pitch into the alley between center and right field for a triple.

A hesitation on the relay throw was all an alert Rodriquez needed to race home and score.

It would be the only run the junior Mott would surrender.

Mott (21-6) gave up one run on seven hits while striking out nine Cowboys.

Mott gave up just two infield hits in her final four innings of work.

"I gotta give credit to Mott," Carlmont coach Jim Liggett said. "She was around the plate and did a good job for us."

While Mott looked good, Salinas starter Rodriquez (9-9) looked unbeatable.

The senior held Carlmont to just two hits, a Megan Hansen double in the third inning and a single by Alexa Daines in the fifth, in the first five innings.

"She is one of our leaders," said Omoto. "She's been our ace pitcher. She pitched a really good game."

Rodriquez has accepted a scholarship to play at Cal-State Bakersfield.
The spark the Carlmont offense needed was provided by the defense.

In the top of the sixth inning, Emily Montanez's one-out line drive in the alley between left and center, was tracked down by a racing Alexis Ayers.

Ayers threw to second base to double up the runner and the inning was over.

"I think the catch Alexis made definitely pumped everybody up," Mott said.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Scots finally started hitting a tiring Rodriquez.

Center fielder Kelly Cunningham singled and stole second.

Katy Suko's successful sacrifice bunt advanced the tying run to third base.

With the infield drawn in, Caitlin Steele's two hopper was misplayed at short for an error. Cunningham came into score and tie the game 1-1.

Ayers followed with a base hit that dropped in front of a charging Brittany Gonzalez in right field. During an intense eight-pitch at-bat, both Steele and Ayers moved up 90 feet on a passed ball.

The eighth pitch was drilled by Daines into right field for a base hit, scoring Steele. A bobble in right field sent Ayers scurrying home with the game's final run.

"We were down by one run and we needed to rally," Daines said. "We pulled some hits together in that inning, and it really helped us out."

In the top of the seventh, Jaynie MacDonald led off with a walk. With one out, Gonzalez hit into a game-ending 1-6-3 double play.

"We don't have the Ashley Chinns, the Tori Nybergs, the Jerrica Castagnos (three former Carlmont aces), kids who don't give up any runs.

So we have to manufacture runs and play good defense," Liggett said.

"They're a tough team, Carlmont," Omoto said.

"We knew that coming in."

Liggett is 826-168-2 in 33 years as head coach.

During that time, Carlmont (24-7) has played in 10 CCS championship games, winning six.

The Scots' quest for No. 7 continues Saturday when Carmont takes on the Leigh Longhorns. It's a noon first pitch at Hawes Park.