CARLSBADCARLSBAD — Summer softball in the Southern California Championships saw Carlsbad playing without three regulars and a pitcher who normally fields at shortstop.
Westlake was in a similar bind without three starters and with its head coach in New Jersey, but the Warriors’ pitcher is an absolute ace headed to Sanford on a softball scholarship.
Kylie Chung (18-2) struck out 17 batters, came within an out of a no-hitter and survived a gritty Lancers lineup as No. 5-seeded Westlake topped No. 3 Carlsbad 3-1 in the Division I quarterfinals on Tuesday.
“That’s a high-level pitcher,” Carlsbad coach Jared Miller said. “She’s won 18 games for a reason. We had some things go our way in the middle of the game and gave them a scare. But that’s a really good team.”
The Lancers (17-7) walked six times, but their only hit came with two out in the bottom of the seventh, a sharp, slap single by the third baseman off the bat of junior Mickey Buscemi.
“It (the no-hitter) was so close, but it’s OK,” Chung said. “It was a good team win against a great team.”
London Jarrard (4-2) allowed only one of four hits in the first five innings. She was chosen to start after a shoulder injury and a COVID-19 vaccination ailment to the Lancers’ top two pitchers. A couple weeks ago, Jarrard was selected as the female athlete of the year at Carlsbad after starring in volleyball and basketball as well as hitting .426 with 30 RBIs.
Carlsbad went up 1-0 in the fourth inning. Buscemi reached on a fielding error to start the inning and stole second base. After a walk to Jarrard, Buscemi scored on a throwing error by the Warriors’ shortstop.
Westlake (21-3) tied it on a sky-high home run to left field by Chung, her ninth, just beyond the reach of Buscemi in left.
“I hit it so high,” Chung said. “I was like, ‘Please, keep going. Please, keep going. I wasn’t sure if (Buscemi) was going to grab it.”
Ashlynn Goodwin then singled sharply to left. A walk to Shaina Lazarus and a hit batter to Samy Gallegos loaded the bases.
With the Westlake dugout chanting “three balls” on London Gamble, a fourth pitch sailed low and outside. Gamble entered the game 0-for-3 on the season and seemed confused and hesitated several seconds after the walk, which proved to be the game-winning RBI.
“She’s a Division I basketball player and league MVP,” Chung said. “She’s still learning softball.”
Westlake got an insurance run in the seventh when Mariah Elehim walked and then scored on a two-out single to right by Lazarus.
Buscemi singled sharply to left in the bottom of the seventh and went to third when Jarrard reached on a fielding error. But Chung induced a fly ball to center to end the drama.
Westlake coach Bob Creamer called to congratulate his players. He was in New Jersey with a travel team commitment.
“They played really well,” said three-year assistant Phoebe Dabbour, who is now 1-0 as a head coach. “I’ve got good players here.”
Westlake advances to play at No. 2 Clovis on Thursday, but Chung isn’t sure if she’ll be there or in Colorado for a tournament commitment.
In the section Open Division playoffs last week, Carlsbad (17-6) lost twice to eventual champion Mater Dei.
“We never give up,” Miller said. “We had some girls step up in absence of several seniors who weren’t here today.”
Lindgren is a freelance writer.
