Softball:
Count the La Verne Little League softball program out at your own peril.
Facing a win-or-go-home scenario on Thursday, La Verne got six runs in the top of the sixth inning to defeat Issaquah, 7-1, at the LLWS in Greenville, North Carolina.
After allowing an unearned run in the bottom of the first inning, Katie Coldiron was lights out the rest of the way.
Coldiron went the distance, scattering three hits, walking three and fanning four Issaquah batters.
Hadlie Delucchi tripled and scored for Washington.
Shaelyn Erickson and Giorgia Graham singled to account for the other two Issaquah base hits.
Erickson got the loss.
She went five-plus innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on six hits.
Erickson walked two and struck out four LVLL batters.
La Verne got one insurance run off London White on one hit.
Laila Washington did her job at the top of the lineup, singling and scoring two runs.
Ryan Torres walked, singled, scored and drove in a run.
Laney Sweeney made a big catch in left, scored a run and had one RBI.
Zoey Colburn singled, scored and had a game-high two RBIs.
Sofia Ayaberrano had an RBI and scored one run.
Coldiron had one single and Bailey Osborne scored.
Bailey Osborne scored once for LVLL and Kylie Chavez drove in a run on a sac fly.
Up next: LVLL will face North Carolina for the second time.
The first pitch is set for 7 a.m. our time on ESPN+.
The winner of Friday’s La Verne-North Carolina game will face the loser of the Virginia-Texas game on Sunday.
Lastly, I asked Coach Torres and her players to touch on their mindset in a win-or-go-home scenario, how nervous were the players and what they saw their roles as in Thursday’s victory.
Quotable:
LVLL manager. Kristen Torres: “We couldn’t possibly expect the World Series would be breezy so now we have to learn and grow from our loss. We have to slow the game down pitch by pitch and stick to our training and experience up until this point. We have to accept our path and be in the moment. Losers bracket or winners bracket, we are here at the World Series and must be in the moment to take it all in and enjoy it. If we play our best, we leave with a ton of great memories win or lose. Every extra game is a gift at this point. Our goal was to get to the world series. Now we are here. Let’s enjoy it all but stay focused and play how we know how to.”
LVLL shortstop, Ryan Torres: “Having to fight off elimination always brings some type of nervousness. Losing (on Wednesday) was definitely heartbreaking and put some doubt in our mind. But I collected my thoughts quickly and started to feel confident that we can rally through the losers bracket and get back on track to win it all. We do rely on our pitcher Katie a lot. We depend on her to keep walks at a minimum and locate the ball, so we can make the routine defensive plays behind her. She works hard for us and we work hard for her.
I hit a line drive up the right side to score the tie run in to get the game back to even. I was also intentionally walked in the sixth and part of the scoring drive in the last inning.”
LVLL pitcher, Katie Coldiron: ” I was focusing on one pitch at a time and doing all I could to strike players out or if they hit the ball could be defended pretty easily. I was working mostly my curveball and screwball. I knew my defense would come through if there were hits and they did! I tried not to think about one loss from going home. I just tried to focus on what I could do to help my team.”
LVLL second baseman, Laila Washington: “We really never openly talk about our nerves. We try and stay focused. I personally got nervous mid game because it was a close game and I didn’t want our playing time here to end. Katie is a huge part of our defense and a big reason why we’ve gone so far. The great thing about our team is we have Katie’s back. I was our first run scored and I scored the go ahead run. Ryan Torres hit me in. I also had a couple of hits today.”
LVLL outfielder, Zoey Colburn: “I felt pretty nervous at the start, but when me and my teammates did a dance, we got hyped before and during the game getting ready to play all the butterflies flew away in my stomach. Losing isn’t fun, but our mind sets were in the right place to keep fighting for the win.”
Box Score:
LVLL: 0-0-0-1-0-6-(7)
Wash: 1-0-0-0-0-0-(1)
Win: Katie Coldiron
Loss: Shaelyn Erickson
3B: Hadlie Delucchi (Washington)
Records at LLWS: La Verne (2-1); Washington (0-2)
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