DIVISION VI SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : Liberty Christian Rally Falls Short
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COSTA MESA — Despite an 8-5 loss to Hesperia Christian in the Southern Section Division VI softball quarterfinals Thursday at Tewinkle Park, Liberty Christian Coach Rudy Sass was upbeat after the game.
“We got a lot further than anybody expected. It’s the furthest we’ve gone in 11 years,” Sass said.
Trailing, 8-3, entering the bottom of the seventh, Liberty Christian (13-6) scored one run on three singles and scored another on a dropped fly ball with two outs. With two runners on base, Lydia Baltodano followed with a sinking line drive to right field that was snagged to end the Minutemen’s 10-game winning streak.
“If that gets a little further to her left, it gets by her and we probably tie it up,” Sass said. “It’s a tough loss to take.”
Trailing 3-0, Liberty Christian scored three runs in the first inning. However, Hesperia Christian pitcher Christy Cuellar gave up only one hit over the next five innings as the Patriots (17-6), seeded fourth in Division VI, took an 8-3 lead before the late-inning rally by Liberty Christian.
Advancing to the quarterfinals is a good sign for Sass. Liberty Christian started five freshmen and two sophomores Thursday.
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