Softball: Ayala reigns on my parade (Kennedy’s too)
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What a bummer. I don’t want to say I was rooting for one team over another, but I was fired up for the big Friday showdown between La Palma Kennedy and Corona Santiago in the Nike Faster to First softball tournament. How often do the teams ranked No. 1 and 2 in the nation face each other -- in the second round, no less???
But Kennedy lost to Ayala, 4-3, in 10 innings in the first round.
Frankly, Santiago-Ayala just doesn’t do it for me. Sorry, Lady Bulldogs, you’re just not as exciting as Kennedy. At least, not yet. I imagine after you beat Santiago I’ll be begging you to talk to me, and you’ll be asking yourselves, ‘Martin who?’ I only have two words: Pretty pleeeease!!!
Still, the first day of this inaugural tournament at the Huntington Beach Sports Complex has to be considered a resounding success. Any time a collection of quality teams are brought together, there are bound to be surprises. Hart blew a 2-0 lead and lost. Garden Grove Pacifica was rocked, 8-3, by Long Beach Wilson. Phoenix St. Mary’s, ranked No. 8 in the nation, was beaten by No. 21 Sparks (Nev.) Spanish Springs.
Honestly, Wilson and Ayala were two of the last three teams added to the tournament because others had dropped out. It has turned into a brilliant piece of drama orchestrated by Anaheim Canyon’s co-coach, Lance Eddy, the point man for this event and now a certifiable genius.
The only one of 13 games that was not competitive was Belmont Notre Dame’s 14-0 victory over Norwalk, which was the third of those last three teams.
What’s on tap for Day 2?
Does Pacifica win a game? Does Kennedy? Everybody they face from here on out should be tougher.
Over on the winner’s side, Norco plays No. 4 Sacramento Sheldon at 11:30 a.m., which is the same time No. 2 Santiago plays Spanish Springs. But if you can’t cut class or get out of work -- I don’t recommend the former but heartily endorse the latter -- the evening closes with El Toro vs. Valencia at 7:30 p.m.
For what it’s worth, El Toro beat Ayala in a doubleheader earlier this season, 4-0 and 4-1. Valencia won the Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Ariz., last weekend. The Vikings, who no longer have pitcher Jordan Taylor, were the No. 1 team in the nation last year and the way this week is starting out, well....
-- Martin Henderson