Liberty pitcher Soraya Seumalo pitches against Basic in the fourth inning at Basic High School in Henderson on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Basic won 11-2. Patrick Connolly Las Vegas Review-Journal @PConnPie
Coronado baserunner Aleah Baldonado (4) dives safely into third base as Green Valley infielder Cristina De Los Angeles (18) waits for the throw in the second inning of a softball game against Coronado at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Green Valley infielder Katrina Ramos (1) bobbles the ball in the second inning of a softball game against Coronado at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Green Valley Cristina De Los Angeles (18) bobbles the throw from home as Coronado baserunner Madi Stephens (8) goes back to third base in the second inning of a softball game against Coronado at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. Stephens was called out on the play due to interference. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado Veronica Jarchow (2) comes up short on a fly ball in the third inning of a softball game against Green Valley at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Green Valley Alicia Ortega (15) throws to first to get Coronado baserunner Sydney Smith (13) out in the third inning of a softball game at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado baserunner Tatum Spangler (5) dives safely back to third past the tag of Green Valley infielder Cristina De Los Angeles (18) in the third inning of a softball game against Coronado at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Coronado pitcher Tatum Spangler (5) throws against Green Valley in the third inning of a softball game against Coronado at Coronado High School Wednesday, May 9, 2018. K.M. Cannon Las Vegas Review-Journal @KMCannonPhoto
Liberty pitcher Soraya Seumalo smiled in between pitches, outs and innings on Wednesday.
She had a lot of fun shutting down Basic.
Seumalo threw a complete game to propel the Patriots to a 5-1 road victory in the second round of the double-elimination Sunrise Region softball tournament.
The Patriots meet Coronado in the winners bracket on Thursday. Basic plays Foothill in the losers bracket.
Liberty (22-7) lost to Basic (21-11) twice convincingly in the regular season, making Wednesday all the more special given the circumstances.
“We reduced the errors. We had timely hits,” Patriots coach Jim Portese said.
And they had Seumalo.
The senior pounded the strike zone early in counts and let the Patriots make plays. She cruised through Basic’s lineup, surrendering seven hits and one run while striking out four.
She had plenty of run support, as Liberty roughed up Basic star pitcher Shelby Basso in the middle innings. Sisters McKenzie and Morgan LaNeve both went 2-for-4 with two RBIs, and Shelby Carvalho went 1-for-4 with an RBI double.
“(We saw Basso) three times,” Portese said. “She’s one of the best … It was just a team effort. Give all the credit to my kids.”
Portese said he was proud of Seumalo, who also pitched in a victory over Rancho on Tuesday. She committed in the offseason to improving her conditioning, and it showed.
“Today, I prepared myself better — mentally and physically,” she said. “I love pitching. I love playing with this group of girls. It’s my senior year, and I want to keep winning.”
