Academics always come first, and with AP exams taking place at Edison High on Tuesday afternoon, the Chargers softball team was facing a must-win situation with two of its top players – Kiana Pancino and Riley Wester – hitting the books.
Thrust into the pitching circle, freshman Jenna Bloom had quite the test of her own against red-hot Marina.
By acing the challenge, Bloom kept alive the Chargers’ playoff chances.
Bloom tossed a six-hitter and shut out the Vikings from the second inning on in Edison’s crucial 4-2 Sunset League win at Marina High.
With the victory, the Chargers (13-11, 3-4) moved within a game of the Vikings (10-14, 4-3) for the third-place slot in the standings. With just three league games remaining and only three guaranteed playoff spots up for grabs, the win was a huge boost for Edison’s postseason hopes.
“The girls knew they just have to take it one game at a time,” Chargers coach Kim Ensey said. “Jenna was huge. She has the maturity of an upperclassmen, and she showed that today in the circle.
“She hates to lose. She shows a competitiveness all the time, and that’s what’s going to keep her successful the rest of this year and into her future.”
Bloom’s teammates helped by grabbing a 3-0 lead in the first inning. Junior left fielder Danielle Votendahl belted a two-run homer, and first baseman Allie Greenburg drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to right field.
The Vikings responded with two runs in the bottom half of the inning as Shyla Thomas and Kayla-Nylene Pemasa each contributed an RBI single.
From the second inning on, though, Bloom scattered only three hits and retired eight batters in a row at one point.
Votendahl finished 2 for 4 and scored Edison’s fourth run in the fifth inning, and teammate Hannah Horton went 3 for 4 with a double and a pair of singles.
Also in the Sunset League:
No. 3 Los Alamitos 6, Fountain Valley 3: In her first start back since bruising her forearm in late March, junior pitcher Ryan Denhart struck out nine to lead the Griffins (20-2, 6-1) past the Barons (13-12, 3-4).
In the South Coast League:
Aliso Niguel 4, No. 2 Mission Viejo 3: The Wolverines (16-8, 2-4) jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, and handed the Diablos (19-4, 5-1) their first league loss since April 19, 2012. The loss snapped Mission Viejo’s 34-game league win streak.
In the Trinity League:
No. 10 Santa Margarita 6, No. 5 Mater Dei 5: Makenna Lutterloh homered, doubled and scored two runs as the Eagles (16-8, 4-2) pulled into a second-place tie with the Monarchs (21-5, 4-2). Sophomore pitcher Paige Vargas struck out seven and earned the victory, and Miranda Johnson had two hits.
In the Empire League:
No. 7 Pacifica 6, Kennedy 1: Hannah Martinez, Hannah Haro and Shelby Shultes each finished with multiple base hits for the Mariners (16-4, 7-0).
In nonleague play:
Yorba Linda 5, Foothill 0: Senior pitcher Ciara Stapp tossed a six-hit shutout, and the Mustangs used a five-run sixth inning to top the host Knights. Allison Castro drove in a pair of runs with a single in the fifth, and Sierra Bauerle’s had a two-run triple.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
