REDWOOD CITY, CA - Gabriela Pons did something she had never done on a softball diamond before and as a result, Carlmont is headed to the CCS Division I championship.
The Scots took advantage of a pair of home runs by Pons to edge Wilcox, 4-3, Thursday afternoon in a CCS Division I semifinal at Hawes Park.
"I think we did really well," said Pons. "I think we might have been able to hit a little better, but overall we did great."
Pons got the Scots going in the second inning with a home run to right field to tie the game 1-1 after Wilcox had taken an early 1-0 lead. Christy Peterson followed up shortly after with a base hit to left field. The ball bounced off the left fielder's foot and rolled straight to the fence, and Peterson was awarded with a home run.
"To be honest, we came out kind of flat," said Peterson. "First inning was okay... then boom, Gabbi hits a home run, boom, I hit a home run, and all of a sudden it's a (4-1) ballgame."
Pons struck again in the sixth inning with a two-run blast to center field, scoring winning pitcher Rebecca Faulkner from first place to increase Carlmont's lead to 4-1.
"It felt really good," said Pons, when asked about hitting two home runs in one game. "I've never done that in one game before."
Despite trailing 4-1 late, the Chargers did not give up hope. Haley Thompson led off the seventh inning with a solid double to left field. Katie Stensrud followed up with a two-run homer to left-center field to close the gap to 4-3.
"We played well the entire game," said Wilcox coach Laura Stott. "To come out with a two-run bomb in the seventh was everything it could have been and more, except the one more run."
The Chargers' Morgan Ratliff led off the game with a solid base hit to left field. Savannah Montez followed up with a walk. Montez was thrown out on a steal to second, however Ratliff scored on the play to give Wilcox a 1-0 lead.
"I'm incredibly proud of the fight that our girls had," Stott said. "They played well the entire game."
Although it was a heartbreaking loss for the Chargers, the team had a tremendous season.
"Our team bonded really well this season," said Stott. "[This team has been] one of my favorite teams I've ever coached, and it's hard because I was not ready for this season to be over."
The Scots advance on to the final CCS game Saturday, when they will take on eight-time defending CCS champs San Benito (San Jose PAL Stadium, 3 pm).
"San Benito is going to be [a tough team to play,]" said Carlmont assistant coach Haley Woods. "We have one day of practice to get ready for it, and Saturday is going to be fun."
