Softball loses chance at league title to Torrey Pines
By Bill Tamburrino
The Ramona High School softball team entered the final game of the season with a chance to be the only RHS team to win a Palomar League championship but was outscored by Torrey Pines.
The Lady Dawgs beat Mount Carmel and lost to Poway before locking up with Torrey Pines for the Palomar League crown
Against Mt. Carmel (10-11, 5-4) Kailey Hill started the game by hanging a zero on the scoreboard from her position in the pitching circle and then finished the first inning by hitting a two run home run, her eleventh of the season. Hill then pitched a complete game to earn the win in a 3-2 pitching duel. Hill did not allow a walk and struck out five. She scattered five hits and both runs that the Mount scored were unearned.
Kim Whelehon had a good day at the plate. The senior co-captain went 2-for-3. Co-captain KK Melgoza scored two runs and went 1-for-3. Adrianna Johnson also had a 1-for 3 outing and drove in the winning run with a single. Christina Barrameda, Amber Davis and Jazmin Simone also hit safely for the RHS team.
It is often said that turnabout is fair play. Poway (12-11, 4-6) answered a 3-0 defeat played earlier this season at their field with a 3-0 victory over the Lady Dawgs at RHS on Senior Day.
Hill went the distance and took the loss as the Lady Bulldog offense was limited to just two hits. Hill gave up seven hits and struggled with her control and surrendered five walks while striking out six.
Hill and Melgoza recorded Ramona’s only two hits as only four Lady Dawgs reached base. Julie Ward and Amber Davis reached on walks.
Ramona traveled to Torrey Pines (26-5, 7-3) with a league title on the line. A win would have given the Lady Dawgs a piece of the Palomar League pennant.
The Lady Dawgs had to play the game without their leading home run hitter, Kailey Hill.
“Kailey is taking a very demanding schedule and has an advanced placement test. If she missed the test the makeup date is on the day of the CIF semifinals and we would like to be in that game and we would like to have Kailey there for that game,” explained assistant Coach Robin Brainard who also teaches advanced placement classes.
Julie Ward got the start and pitched very well as she went six innings and limited the league champions to one run on five hits. She walked five and fanned one.
Ward’s counterpart, Rachel Nasland (14-2, 0.65 era), was almost perfect. She only allowed two base runners. Ally Harvey and Amber Davis both singled and both advanced to second base by way of sacrifice bunts and both were stranded in scoring position.
“I am disappointed that we didn’t win, but I am in no way disappointed with the way we played. We didn’t commit an error and we made several plays on defense. To come so close to a league championship in a league as tough as ours is an accomplishment,” said Coach Antoinette Rodriguez.
The Lady Dawgs finished the season with a 17-8-1 record and are awaiting a berth in the CIF Division II playoffs.