CHS softball gets shutout at last home game

Overheard from the South Hills dugout at the top of the sixth inning on Thursday: “This is going to be a big inning. I can just feel it.” Boy,was that an understatement.

South Hills defeated Claremont High School 7-0 on Thursday in Claremont, anchored by an explosive sixth inning during which the Huskies could do nothing wrong, putting six runs on the board. Up until then it was a 1-0 game, and Claremont kept South Hills on their toes with some good pitching and some equally good defense.

In the first inning, it looked like the Wolfpack might go on the board first when senior Chloe Amarilla singled and then advanced to scoring position on a sacrifice bunt from junior Ashley Atwater. The Pack added some good luck when freshman Nadine Ordonez took first after being hit by a pitch. But South Hills pitcher Natalia Lugo put Claremont away with two strikeouts.

The Huskies wasted no time scoring when their catcher Melysia Ortega hit a home run to start off the second inning. Ortega had a great game, getting a hit each time she came to the plate with the exception of her last appearance when she was hit with a pitch.

South Hills made several valiant efforts to increase their lead over the next three innings, but Claremont either shut them down or got a bit of luck.

In the third inning, South Hills got two singles early, only to fly out and ground out. Then, in the fourth, the Huskies advanced runners to second and third bases. Claremont pitcher Roe Keirns struck out Quinn DeAvila. It was déjà vu in the fifth when, with two runners on base, CHS got the clutch strikeout.

But then came the sixth, which started out badly for the Pack when Ortega hit her second home run. It was a big inning indeed with six hits, two walks and one hit by a pitch. Claremont struggled, missing some easy chances to stop the hemorrhaging, but in the end, South Hills scored six runs and the game was essentially over.

Credit has to go to Lugo, who pitched an amazing seven innings, striking out 11 batters, while giving up only one hit and earning the shutout.

Tuesday was also senior night for CHS as they bid farewell to Brittany Attaway, Nadine Valdez, Roe Keirns and Chloe Amarilla, who will all graduate in June.

With the loss, Claremont’s record now stands at 9-10 overall and 2-7 in the Palomares League.

—Steven Felschundneff

HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP

TENNIS

By unanimous decision of the participating coaches, Claremont High School tennis star Andrew Leahy was awarded the Palomares League MVP after his victory in the finals last week at The Claremont Club. It is the second year in a row that Leahy has been league MVP.

Leahy beat South Hills’ Kevin Tang in the semifinals 6-4, 6-0 and then easily handled the number-two-ranked Neal Tengbumroong from Diamond Bar in the finals 6-2, 6-1. This is the third year in a row that Leahy has made it to the league finals and his second championship victory after losing to his brother Alan as a freshman.

Leyton Bohren lost in a close three-set semi-final match to Tengbumroong 3-6, 6-1, 6-4, however, this was still a remarkable showing for the freshman.

Leahy and Tengbumroong will go on to play in individual CIF competition later in the month at Redlands University.

BASEBALL

Claremont High School baseball won their Palomares League game against Bonita on Tuesday in La Verne.

In another pitcher’s duel, the Pack looked like they were headed for a 1-0 defeat until they scored in the sixth, forcing the game into extra innings.

After two more scoreless innings, Claremont finally broke it open in the ninth, scoring three runs and securing the 4-1 win. In total, the Pack had 14 hits and four RBIs.

Senior Trent Troncone and sophomore Jake Gentry each had three hits and one run, with Gentry getting a double. The other two runs came from senior Jeremiah Maldonado and senior Tyler Roebuck. Maldonado also had an RBI. Senior Ryan Betancourt had three hits and one RBI and Cole Prentice had two runs with one RBI.

Tyler Witt pitched six innings, giving up two hits and one run while striking out eight and walking three. Reliever Travis Moffatt pitched three innings, giving up no hits, walks or runs but striking out two.

SAN ANTONIO SOCCER

Last week was a good week for the San Antonio Lions. After opening their soccer season with a 3-2 over Pomona Park West, School of Extended Options on April 30, the Lions went on a two-game winning streak to close out the week.

On Thursday, May 7, San Antonio played the Hillside High School Hawks and walked away with a 3-1 victory at Pomona High School. The top performance came from Junior Jose Vasquez who had two goals.

The following day, San Antonio defeated the Chaparral High School Bulldogs during a day game by a score of 7-1. The Lions had a balanced attack, with six different players scoring and an assist when Chaparral scored against itself.

The Lions’ leading scorers for the season are junior Jose Vasquez and senior Manual Cortez, with three goals apiece. 

The Lions played on Thursday, May 14 in a rematch with Pomona Park West at Pomona High School.

GIRLS TRACK

Girls track and field did well in the league prelims last week, with several victories and even more qualifying for the finals.

Annie Boos and Tess Rounds each won their heat in the 1600-meter run. Boos also won her heat in the 800-meter as did Julia Cantrell.

Brittney Duquette won both the 400-meter and 100-meter event, while Kylie Robinson took first in her round of the 400-meter.

Robinson, Amanda Bixler and Natalia Bertirotti each won their heat of the 200-meter event.

—Steven Felschundneff

steven@claremont-courier.com