Posted: Jun 24, 2019
Muchin Holds On to Defeat Speer Academy in the Noble League Softball Championship
By Emily Iannaconi
In a true pitcher's duel, the Muchin Mountain Lions defeated the Speer Academy Pride, 2-1, Sunday, June 2, at DePaul University's Cacciatore Stadium to win their third consecutive Noble League Championship.
The Mountain Lions entered the game with a 13-3 record while the Pride posted a 12-4 mark in the regular season. Head coach of Muchin, Anais Booker said that the championship is very special to her and her team. "It means a lot to have the girls come out here and try their hardest to make sure they stay humble and hungry at the same time," Booker said. "We're just really proud of them going for it the third year in a row."
Assistant coach, Adrian Lozano, called the win over Speer Academy a nail biter. "It was whoever wanted it the most and I'm so proud of these girls for coming through and having fun at the same time," Lozano said. "It was an awesome game and it shows that the hard work we did all year pays off at the end of the day."
Crystal Gallegos drew a walk to start off the first inning for Muchin. She stole second on the next pitch and ran all the way home, scoring on a throwing error. Vanessa Paez singled down the left field line and then stole second. Jasmine Lozano blasted a single to left field, putting runners on the corner for the Mountain Lions with nobody out. Speer Academy's pitcher, Bela Duran struck out the next two batters, but Paez was able to score on the throw to first base. With two outs, Duran popped up to the pitcher, ending the top half of the inning.
With one out, Speer Academy's Mya Justiniano drew a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error. Then, with two outs, Julianna Acevedo found the gap in right field for an RBI double, plating Justiniano. A strikeout ended the inning, making the score 2-1 at the end of one inning of play.
Duran struck out all three batters she faced in the first half of the second inning, holding the Mountain Lions scoreless. She recorded five strikeouts through the first two innings alone.
Gallegos struck out the first Pride batter she faced to start the bottom half of the second. Destiny Worthy was hit by the pitch, putting a runner on first with one out. A ground out to second allowed Worthy to advance to second, but Gallegos recorded another strikeout to end the inning.
Duran and Gallegos did not allow a run over the next two innings.
Gallegos reached on an error by the third baseman to lead off the top of the fifth inning for the Mountain Lions and stole second shortly after. Duran forced a pop up and two ground outs to end the inning though as the Pride left one runner stranded.
Speer Academy threatened when Maldinado led off the bottom half of the fifth inning with an infield single. After Gallegos struck out the next batter, Maldinado stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. After a fly out to center field, Justiniano drew a walk, putting runners on first and third for the Pride with two out. Justiniano stole second on the next pitch. Gallegos struck out the next Speer Academy batter though, leaving two runners stranded on the base paths and keeping the score at 2-1.
Duran retired the Mountain Lions in order in the top half of the sixth inning, throwing three straight ground outs, keeping the Pride within one.
With one out, Gomez shot a ball over the glove of the Muchin third baseman to reach base on a single to lead off the bottom half of the sixth. Gomez stole second shortly after and advanced to third on a passed ball. Alissa Ruiz lined out to shortstop and the Mountain Lions turned two by throwing the ball to third. Muchin entered the seventh inning still with a one-run advantage.
Duran induced three ground outs to retire Muchin in order. Duran collected nine strikeouts through seven innings.
Paez robbed Mia Lopez of a hit at shortstop for the first out of the bottom of the seventh inning. After a ground out, pinch hitter Kaylen Nava hit a single to right field to put a runner on first with two outs for the Pride. Duran hit a fly ball to third to end the game though, securing a 2-1 victory for the Mountain Lions.
Muchin out-hit Speer Academy 4-3 in the pitcher's duel.
Paez, a senior for Muchin, said that the win meant everything to her. "This is my last year. I played my heart out."
Gallegos said that she is also happy to close out her senior year with a championship. "This game meant a lot to me. It showed how we're able to come up and stay no matter what. There were some up's and down's but we managed to pull through."
In a true pitcher's duel, the Muchin Mountain Lions defeated the Speer Academy Pride, 2-1, Sunday, June 2, at DePaul University's Cacciatore Stadium to win their third consecutive Noble League Championship.
The Mountain Lions entered the game with a 13-3 record while the Pride posted a 12-4 mark in the regular season. Head coach of Muchin, Anais Booker said that the championship is very special to her and her team. "It means a lot to have the girls come out here and try their hardest to make sure they stay humble and hungry at the same time," Booker said. "We're just really proud of them going for it the third year in a row."
Assistant coach, Adrian Lozano, called the win over Speer Academy a nail biter. "It was whoever wanted it the most and I'm so proud of these girls for coming through and having fun at the same time," Lozano said. "It was an awesome game and it shows that the hard work we did all year pays off at the end of the day."
Crystal Gallegos drew a walk to start off the first inning for Muchin. She stole second on the next pitch and ran all the way home, scoring on a throwing error. Vanessa Paez singled down the left field line and then stole second. Jasmine Lozano blasted a single to left field, putting runners on the corner for the Mountain Lions with nobody out. Speer Academy's pitcher, Bela Duran struck out the next two batters, but Paez was able to score on the throw to first base. With two outs, Duran popped up to the pitcher, ending the top half of the inning.
With one out, Speer Academy's Mya Justiniano drew a walk and advanced to second on a throwing error. Then, with two outs, Julianna Acevedo found the gap in right field for an RBI double, plating Justiniano. A strikeout ended the inning, making the score 2-1 at the end of one inning of play.
Duran struck out all three batters she faced in the first half of the second inning, holding the Mountain Lions scoreless. She recorded five strikeouts through the first two innings alone.
Gallegos struck out the first Pride batter she faced to start the bottom half of the second. Destiny Worthy was hit by the pitch, putting a runner on first with one out. A ground out to second allowed Worthy to advance to second, but Gallegos recorded another strikeout to end the inning.
Duran and Gallegos did not allow a run over the next two innings.
Gallegos reached on an error by the third baseman to lead off the top of the fifth inning for the Mountain Lions and stole second shortly after. Duran forced a pop up and two ground outs to end the inning though as the Pride left one runner stranded.
Speer Academy threatened when Maldinado led off the bottom half of the fifth inning with an infield single. After Gallegos struck out the next batter, Maldinado stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball. After a fly out to center field, Justiniano drew a walk, putting runners on first and third for the Pride with two out. Justiniano stole second on the next pitch. Gallegos struck out the next Speer Academy batter though, leaving two runners stranded on the base paths and keeping the score at 2-1.
Duran retired the Mountain Lions in order in the top half of the sixth inning, throwing three straight ground outs, keeping the Pride within one.
With one out, Gomez shot a ball over the glove of the Muchin third baseman to reach base on a single to lead off the bottom half of the sixth. Gomez stole second shortly after and advanced to third on a passed ball. Alissa Ruiz lined out to shortstop and the Mountain Lions turned two by throwing the ball to third. Muchin entered the seventh inning still with a one-run advantage.
Duran induced three ground outs to retire Muchin in order. Duran collected nine strikeouts through seven innings.
Paez robbed Mia Lopez of a hit at shortstop for the first out of the bottom of the seventh inning. After a ground out, pinch hitter Kaylen Nava hit a single to right field to put a runner on first with two outs for the Pride. Duran hit a fly ball to third to end the game though, securing a 2-1 victory for the Mountain Lions.
Muchin out-hit Speer Academy 4-3 in the pitcher's duel.
Paez, a senior for Muchin, said that the win meant everything to her. "This is my last year. I played my heart out."
Gallegos said that she is also happy to close out her senior year with a championship. "This game meant a lot to me. It showed how we're able to come up and stay no matter what. There were some up's and down's but we managed to pull through."
