Day 3: Game Details

Good afternoon FHS supporters.

This morning's game was quite the event, and definitely up there with the most exciting games of the season.

Game 2: Downey vs. Fullerton Hills
Starting pitcher: Sam Wekall

The game began with a quiet 1st inning for both teams as the girls tried to get adjusted to the pitchers.  The top of the 2nd inning started off with a lead off triple followed by a fielder's choice ground ball to SS, resulting in one run for Downey.  In the bottom of the 2nd inning when Brooke Castillo got to 1B on an error, then to 2B on an illegal pitch.  Brooke Castillo advanced to 3B on another illegal pitch.  However the inning ended scoreless for Fullerton.

In the 3rd inning both pitchers were feeling their strengths and shut down the batters and the game remained 1-0 in favor of Downey. Around the 4th inning the girls began to play small ball to advance the runners and try to get something started, yet the score still remained 1-0, Downey.  In the top of the 5th inning, Savi Rojas throws a rocket to 2B to catch a girl stealing to end the half inning.  It left the girls pumped, excited, and ready to get back in the game and make things happen.

Downey was shut down in the top of the 6th inning, in a high pressure situation, with runners on 2B and 3B. The girls were finally getting used to the Downey pitching when Sara Fajnor ripped a triple to LF with Brooke Castillo on 1B.  Brooke Castillo rounded 2B and 3B as fast as she could when she realized that she had failed to touch 3B.  She turned and went back to 3B to touch it, when she realized that Sara was also there. Brooke Castillo broke for home and was thrown out at the plate.

This play didn't kill Fullerton's momentum, but increased it as they proceeded to shut down Downey in the top of the 7th innning.  The bottom of the 7th was the pivitol inning for Fullerton.  Alex Castillo lead off the inning with a single to RF and advanced to 2B as the ball was thrown into the dugout and pronounced a dead ball. Haley Schulte went in to run for Alex Castillo, and Savi Rojas laid down a sacrifice bunt to advance Haley Schulte to 3B. Up to bat now was Riley Nahrwold who laid down a squeeze bunt, which scored Haley Schulte from 3B.  The game was now tied, 1-1.

The game was now in international tie-breaker in the 8th inning and Riley Nahrwold was in to pitch for Fullerton (in international tie-breaker, the last out for the team that is up to bat, starts the inning on 2B with no out).  Downey's runner on 2B was bunted over to 3B, and the out was made at 1B.  There was one out in the inning when a fly ball was hit to Taylor Browne at SS, towards CF on the edge of the infield.  Taylor Browne catches the ball, and runner on 3B breaks for home.  Taylor Browne throws the ball to Savi Rojas, and the Downey runner runs back to 3B. Savi Rojas chases her down, tosses the ball to Nina Melendez at 3B, and Nina Melendez tags the runner out at 3B. This inning ending double play gave the girls the excitement and momentum they needed to take charge of the game.

The bottom of the 8th inning started off with Erin Gonzalez on 2B.  Taylor Browne laid a bunt down the 1B line to lead off the inning, and advances Erin Gonzalez to 3B.  Erin Gonzalez is now on 3B with 1 out, and Nina Melendez is up to bat.  Nina Melendez hits a solid ground ball to SS and Erin Gonzalez breaks for home.  The SS throws the ball to home as Erin Gonzalez beats the throw home, and is called safe.  Fullerton wins the game 2-1 in the 8th inning.


This team always knows how to leave us on the edge of our seats! Way to go girls. The draw for bracket play is tonight where we will find out who we play and when we play them tomorrow. Check back later this evening for updates!