Photo by Mike Mann
Softball:
By Brian Reed-Baiotto, Sports Editor
There was every reason for the La Verne softball program to be tight.
After all, they were making their first appearance in the Little League World Series on Tuesday night in Greenville, North Carolina.
It was being streamed throughout the world on ESPN+.
And La Verne was facing a Pitt County team that not only plays minutes from the tournament’s location, they were also far more adjusted to the brutal North Carolina humidity than were the girls from Southern California.
But fear not, because Katie Coldiron had the ball in her hand, and La Verne cruised to a 9-2 victory in a first-round contest.
Coldiron went five innings to earn the win, and allowed a pair of unearned runs on three hits.
She issued two walks and struck out four North Carolina batters.
Ainsley Doornik provided a scoreless sixth inning in relief.
Michelle Jenkins walked and scored for Pitt County.
Harper Bradley, Sarah Booth, Kamdyn Haislip, Logan Smith and Alana Albritton had one single apiece for North Carolina.
Haislip got the loss.
She went all five innings and allowed nine runs (five earned) on seven hits.
Haislip walked three and registered five strikeouts.
The La Verne offense struck for three runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a 3-0 lead.
They got two more in the third, and put the game on ice with four fourth-inning runs.
Coldiron helped her own cause with an RBI double.
Laila Washington went 2-for-4 and scored one run.
Ryan Torres singled twice and scored, and Laney Sweeney scored twice in Tuesday’s win.
Sofia Ayaberrano walked, singled, scored twice and had an RBI.
Ava Fisher singled, scored and drove in a run.
Erin Garcia walked and scored.
Bailey Osborne scored. and Kylie Chavez had an RBI.
Up next: La Verne will face Chesterfield tomorrow (Wednesday) at 4 Pacific time.
The Virginia team had a first-round bye.
It will be streamed on ESPN+.
Quotable:
La Verne pitcher, Katie Coldiron: “I was really nervous in the beginning, but when I got into a rhythm and my defense made plays behind me, I was able to settle down pretty quickly. I felt like my screwball was working well today. Ava got a big hit, and once we got a couple of runs, I was able to take a deep breath and the pressure seemed to go away. It was really hot and weather we’re not used to in California, but we just went out and competed.”
Box Score:
NC: 0-0-0-2-0-0-(2)
LV: 0-3-2-4-0-X-(9)
Win: Katie Coldiron
Loss: Kamdyn Haislip
2B: Katie Coldiron (LV)
Records: North Carolina (0-1); La Verne (1-0)
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