SPRING JAMBOREE: Small-ball Bulldogs cause havoc on basepaths, gain pool-play win

Centennial’s softball team relied heavily on the long ball in recent seasons as it rolled out one of the most formidable lineups in the area.

But with most of those sluggers now playing in college, speed is the new power for the Bulldogs.

“We don’t mash like we used to, so we do have to be able to execute,” Centennial coach Mike Livreri said. “We do have speed. That’s our new strength.”

The Bulldogs displayed their quickness on the basepaths Thursday, using small ball to manufacture all of their runs in a 3-1 victory over Brawley (Calif.) during pool play of the Spring Jamboree at Majestic Park.

Leadoff hitter Angel Love went 3-for-4, scored twice and had one of Centennial’s four stolen bases. Jaden Tate and Stephanie Day each drove in a run for the Bulldogs (14-8).

Love pulled off a one-person rally in the top of the fifth inning to break a 1-1 tie. She pulled a two-out single to right field, stole second on the first pitch to Skyler Ball, then scored when Brawley second baseman Alexces Tomboc bobbled Ball’s slow roller and threw wide of first.

Centennial added an insurance run in the sixth when Kiana Tate led off with a bunt single and stole second. After cleanup hitter Jaden Tate sacrificed Tate to third, Day laid down a perfect squeeze bunt that died just inside the first-base line.

“Stephanie did have the green light to hit, but once she got a strike on her we went squeeze,” Livreri said. “Anybody in our lineup is going to get the bunt call at any given time, even zero outs up to two outs.

“It was a beautiful bunt. Kiana’s speed paid off because the catcher made a good play on it. She got to it and tried to get her, but her speed is very impressive.”

Centennial pitcher Maddie Jones scattered five hits in seven innings and struck out one. She got plenty of help from her defense, including a key play in the fourth by second baseman Sonja Lawrence.

Reece Presley’s grounder up the middle had eyes for center field, but Lawrence smothered the ball and threw to first for the second out, saving a run in the process. Jones then got Elena Rodriguez to ground out to keep the score tied 1-1.

Hannah Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with a double and scored on Jazmine Jones’ double in the fourth for Brawley.

“Maddie did a great job just doing what Maddie does, putting the ball in play and letting her defense work,” Livreri said. “She had first-pitch strikes most of the time, so that was big. And from there, she could do some different things.”

Centennial 12, Mingus (Ariz.) 0 — Love went 2-for-3 with two doubles, and Lina Barrera drove in four runs as the Bulldogs beat the Marauders in five innings.

Makenzie Ball also doubled for Centennial.

Bulldogs pitcher Cheyenne Cudahy went the distance, allowing only two hits.

Coronado 5, San Fernando (Calif.) 4 — Jillian James scored on a throwing error in the top of the fifth inning as the Cougars rallied by the Tigers in five innings.

Coronado trailed 4-3 entering the fifth, but tied the game on Brooke Younie’s double, which also moved James to third. James scored on a botched pickoff attempt.

Tatum Spangler was 2-for-2 with a home run and three RBIs for the Cougars.

Coronado 12, North Hollywood (Calif.) 0 — James tossed a four-inning one-hitter with nine strikeouts and was 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBIs as the Cougars routed the Huskies.

Sarah Pinkston was 2-for-2 with a double and three RBIs for Coronado.

Palo Verde 13, Garfield (Calif.) 0 — Dejanae Gage’s grand slam capped an 11-run fourth inning as the Panthers routed the Bulldogs in four innings.

Lauren Oxford was 2-for-2 with a home run, a double and two RBIs, and Mackenzie McBride went 1-for-2 with two RBIs for Palo Verde.

Haylee Lupinetti tossed a two-hitter with eight strikeouts for the Panthers.

Palo Verde 6, Chaminade (Calif.) 5 — Oxford went 2-for-2 with a home run and two RBIs, and the Panthers rallied with three runs in the top of the sixth inning to nip the Eagles in six innings.

Kiley Harrison was 2-for-3 for Palo Verde, which scored three runs in the top of the first, but trailed 5-3 after three innings.

Hannah Albrecht was 2-for-3 with two RBIs for Chaminade.

Port of Los Angeles (Calif.) 8, Liberty 3 — McKenna Hefley had a two-run double in the first inning of the Patriots’ loss to the Polar Bears.

Marisa Olmos went 2-for-3 with an RBI single in the second, and Breanna Alvarez was 2-for-3 with a double for Liberty.

Analise De La Roca went 4-for-4 with two RBIs to lead Port of Los Angeles.

Liberty 6, Lehi (Utah) 4 — Winning pitcher Alvarez went 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI, and the Patriots scored all their runs in the top of the first to defeat the Pioneers in six innings.

Alvarez went the distance and allowed only two hits and one earned run. She struck out seven and also walked two batters.

McKenna Hefley went 1-for-3 with an RBI single, and Kylie Hefley also had a run-scoring single in the first.

Birmingham (Calif.) 18, Cheyenne 3 — The Patriots took advantage of eight errors to down the Desert Shields in five innings.

Taylor Cole was 2-for-3 with an RBI, and Jonnette Paddy was 2-for-2 for Cheyenne.

Fernley 6, Cheyenne 0 — Kailey Daggitt tossed a six-hitter to lead the Vaqueros by the Desert Shields.

Serena Olson was 3-for-3 with a home run for Fernley.

Durango 9, Harbor Teacher Prep (Calif.) 7 — Stephanie Huff belted a three-run home run to help the Trailblazers rally from an early 4-0 deficit and top the Monarchs in five innings.

Alia Armstrong went 3-for-3 with a double and an RBI, and Kaitlyn O’Hearn was 2-for-3 for Durango.

Carson (Calif.) 10, Durango 0 — Aniesa Maulupe homered and hit two doubles to lead the Colts by the Trailblazers in four innings.

Alissa Cienfuegos tossed a five-hitter for Carson.

Mykayla Cutone was 2-for-2 for Durango.

Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Calif.) 8, Boulder City 7 — The Cardinals scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to nip the Eagles in six innings.

Charlene Masterson had a double for Boulder City, which scored five runs in the top of the sixth to take a 7-5 lead.

Imperial (Calif.) 6, Boulder City 0 — Jazleigh Ortiz’s home run helped the Tigers top the Eagles.

Alyssa Ybarra was 2-for-3 for Boulder City.

Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) 12, Green Valley 1 — Raven LeClair homered and doubled to lead the Dons by the Gators in five innings.

Cathedral Catholic used a nine-run first inning to take control.

Buena (Calif.) 11, Green Valley 9 — Brooke Yanez was 3-for-3 with a home run as the Bulldogs outslugged the Gators in five innings.

Tara Hilton was 3-for-3 with three doubles and two RBIs, and Italia Reinoehl went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBI for Green Valley.

Sophia Marrs was 2-for-2 with a double and two RBI for the Gators.

El Camino Real (Calif.) 10, Cimarron-Memorial 1 — Gaby Jimenez went 3-for-3 with a triple and a double as the Conquistadors topped the Spartans in five innings.

Diana Whitley doubled twice for Cimarron.

Cimarron-Memorial 7, Central Union (Calif.) 7 — Cimarron built an early 7-2 lead, but couldn’t hold on and settled for a tie with Central Union.

San Benito (Calif.) 15, Basic 0 — Suzy Brookshire belted three doubles as the Haybalers rolled past the Wolves in four innings.

Lexi Edmunds and Rebecca Pullen each had one of Basic’s two hits.

Southwest (Calif.) 5, Basic 2 — The Eagles scored three runs in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back in a six-inning win over the Wolves.

Rebecca Pullen was 2-for-3 with a double for Basic.

Fallbrook (Calif.) 9, Lincoln County 6 — Kia Phillips went 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and Sadie Butler was 3-for-4 with two RBIs, but Lynx’s rally fell short against the Warriors.

Lincoln County trailed 7-1 before Phillips had a two-run single in the fifth inning and Butler added a two-run single in the bottom of the sixth to cut Fallbrook’s lead to 7-6.

Cameron Lloyd drew two walks and scored twice, and Kailey Kelley went 2-for-2 with a run for Lincoln County.

Louisville (Calif.) 9, Lincoln County 7 — Easton Tingey went 2-for-2 with four RBIs but the Lynx lost to the Royals in a game that was halted after one batter in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Tingey had a two-run single in the third inning and added a two-run single in the fourth.

Emma Detamore homered, and Peyton Anton, Jordan Cleary and Kelsey Venuti each had two hits for Louisville.