Posted on 15 April 2014 by La Habra Journal
La Habra’s Taylor Pierce (shown against Whittier Christian) threw a complete game shutout and struck out four in La Habra’s 11-0 league-opening win against Fullerton, Tuesday on the road.
Story and photos by Erik Markus
La Habra Journal
The La Habra softball team jumped out to an early 4-0 lead and cruised behind Taylor Pierce to take home an easy 11-0 victory over Fullerton in the Freeway League opener for both teams, Tuesday afternoon at Fullerton High.
The Lady Highlanders came in as the four-time defending league champions.
“Any time we play, the team we are playing is going to give us their A game,” head coach Frank McCarroll said.
The Lady Highlanders took advantage of Fullerton freshman pitcher Cecilia Lopez, knocking her out of the circle before she left the first inning. The Lady Highlanders batted around in the first inning giving them a four run cushion before they took the field.
In the circle, Taylor Pierce held her own dominating the Lady Indians (9-10,0-1) and preserving the lead.
As a senior Pierce has some new responsibilities to her team, “(I am) a leader out here on the field and in the circle and on defense,” she said.
McCarroll echoed her comments and said, “It’s her time to be the pitcher, she’s a senior so she’s going to lead the staff.”
In the fourth inning, the Lady Highlanders broke through again against Amanda Flores who entered the game to relieve Lopez in the first inning. La Habra loaded the bases and scored two runs on a walk and a single. The bases were still loaded with the 6-0 lead
Fullerton’s Kloee Scott came in to pull her team out of the jam, but gave up two runs on a hit by pitch and a wild pitch. The Lady Indians eventually escaped on a strikeout and a line out but found themselves in an 8-0 deficit.
Pierce padded her lead when she scorched a single into left in the fifth inning. Two more runs were added in the sixth inning to give the Lady Highlanders their 11-0 victory.
Amanda Akles went 2-for-2 with three runs scored and one run batted in. Nikki Butler went 3-for-4 with a run scored and one RBI.
La Habra (12-7, 1-0) will have a big test on Thursday when they face Sunny Hills who they shared the league title last year.