Recap
La Habra, CA — Bracket Play has officially started, lose and go home or win and stay alive! Looks like la Mirada ain't ready to go home yet. The first game of bracket play was between two number 3 seeds, Temple City and yours truly LM. Temple took a quick 3 - 0 lead in the first making good contact and putting the ball in play. Could have easily been 4 if not for the great relay play to stop a possible homer. A hard hit ball to left center field got passed Lylah, however her team mate Layla ( Part of the L and L girls ) had her back with good outfield back up coverage. The ball was successfully relayed to Rylee T. which was then tossed to Faith and almost had the out at second. The runner decided to continue to third, Faiths throw was high and bounced off Andreas glove. The runner went home. Bad Idea! Andrea with a canon arm throws it to the sure handed moose (Lauren Avila) and records the out at home. In the second inning it was our time to score. Putting up a 2 spot making it a 1 run game. Temple city struggled at the circle walking in a few runs, however, adding to their own score. It was tied up at 4 a piece with time running thin. In the forth and final inning TC went up 1 and was looking to add some insurance runs with bases loaded and only 1 out. TC was not afraid to swing the bat and they did just that, hitting a fly ball to first base. Abby, who is known for making big outs in big moments caught the ball for the second out of the inning, noticing that the runner had left third base and tossed the ball home. Evie, playing her first inning at catcher this summer caught the ball and tagged out the runner at the plate completing the double play and getting LM out of trouble. Chasing 1, the home team La Mirada was down to their last at bat of the night. Our girls were ball magnets tonight, Emily taking two, Destyni got hit in the dome (head), but no bigger HBP was Lylah taking one off the shoulder. As she teared up, coach told her " your ok, rub it off, your the most important person on the field right now, you represent the tying run!". The tears instantly stoped and the fire in her eyes was a sight to see. The next few batters had great plate presence, taking walks and eventually scoring Lylah. TC felt the pressure, changing pitchers with the winning run (Layla) on third. They brought in a hard throwing giant to try and save the game. little did they know, LM was at the top of the line up and the teams best eye was at the plate. Eagle eye Faith worked the hard trowing hurler to full count! Fouling of a couple steamers to stay alive, Faith eventually took her 8th walk of the tournament and recorded the game winning RBI with Layla jumping on home plate with two feet to finish the comeback victory, leaving Temple City on the field and on to a long ride home. Great first win for the La Mirada girls!