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PREP SOFTBALL: Covina blanks Pasadena in tourney

COVINA - The Covina and Pasadena high school softball teams have been playing in this season's Northview tournament for very different reasons. Of course, the main objective is to win, which the Colts did in convincing 17-0 fashion in 3 1/2 innings on Wednesday morning; the game was called on account of the time limit. Covina coach Joe Brown threw two options at his team: practice every day or play in the tournament. "I like playing more than practicing," junior Megan Troutman said. "It helps us mentally and physically, seeing other people and playing against other opponents." Covina (8-7) finished off pool play 2-1 and will face Cantwell Sacred Heart in its final tournament game today at 1 p.m. But the tournament was more than just avoiding practice. "A game like this is better than practicing," Brown said. "We put people in different positions. We see how they reacted. Offensively, we did some things we may or may not do in situations later on. You see how the girls respond." Brown said it did not matter to him if the Colts practiced or played during spring break, so he let his girls make the choice. "Everybody got in," he said. "They played well. I told them we had to play at our level and we did." Meanwhile, it's just about getting experience and quality playing time for the Bulldogs. "Progressively, we'll get there in a couple of years," first-year coach Ed McCarthy said. "We're going to take our lumps and bruises. But then it's sad you have seniors who, if you had a little bit of time to work with them, would really progress."

Pasadena (3-12 and 1-2 in the tournament) is carrying three freshmen and five sophomores. Only five of its players are seniors.

"These girls are athletes just like everyone else around here," McCarthy said. "It is just a matter of how much you stay in the softball program. The difference between playing Covina and Pasadena is that some of their girls are playing travel ball. They mentally know what to do. Some of our girls are playing and that's it." The Bulldogs will conclude the tournament Friday afternoon against Azusa. Covina sent at least 10 players to the plate in all but one inning. The Colts scored nine runs in the first inning, getting 13 batters to the plate. It was 5-0 before Pasadena freshman pitcher Kiersten Yamamoto could get an out. Troutman hit a bases-loaded three-run double and after Princess Nava's single, McCarthy sent in left-handed senior Jasmyn Vega, who had just as much trouble as Yamamoto. Covina had six hits in the inning and finished with 12. The Colts scored four times in the second inning, facing their third pitcher, Kayla Gotangco, who was called up from the JV team for the tournament. Gotangco, a junior, was a member of the varsity team last year, but in McCarthy's restructuring of the program has thrown for the JV team this season. "It's now down to consistent pitching if we're going to win or lose," McCarthy said. "Our bats are coming around. It's just the pitching."

Two errors and a two-run double by Candice Orozco led to the 10-batter, four-run second inning. Gotangco pitched a perfect third inning, but the Colts got four more runs in the top of the fourth off three hits. The game was called before Pasadena could go to the plate in the bottom of the fourth. Covina freshman pitcher Nava gave up two hits and struck out one. The Colts did not commit any errors. "It was good to see us just executing," Brown said. "Our defense was good, our pitching was good and we obviously hit the ball well. You can't argue when you do those things right." Melissa Cortez singled to right field to start the game for Pasadena and Tailin Dekermendjian doubled to left field in the second inning. "We can do it," Dekermendjian said. "We weren't ready for this game. We need to play together. There are some new girls on varsity and we're learning each other." Pasadena proved it could hit the ball, but it was right at the defense. "There are highlights," McCarthy said. "We're taking it one step at a time."

Orozco and Troutman each scored three times. Lyandra Opbroeck also had an RBI double.