Going into their sixth game of the season on March 20, UHS Girls’ Softball boasted a 4-1 record, while Godinez Fundamental stood at 1-4.
Following their 25-0 triumph over Samueli Academy, the Trojans looked to continue their momentum against the Grizzlies.
To start the game, senior captain and pitcher Carson Cruz struck out the first batter, walked the second and struck out the next two to retire the side.
“Carson, our starting pitcher, played the most instrumental role in the game,” sophomore Sophia Weinberg said. “She threw a no-hitter.”
To start the bottom of the first inning, Weinberg hit a double, setting the tone for the rest of the game. The Trojans scored three runs before the first out was recorded and added three more before a groundout ended the inning.
“The first hit of the game was really impactful,” Cruz said. “It shifted the momentum to our side.”
At the top of the second, Cruz struck out all three Grizzlies batters, giving the Trojans a chance to extend their lead. In the bottom half of the inning, freshman Jessica Hu hit a home run, but the rest of the Trojans failed to get on base.
The top of the third inning ended quickly with a flyout and two strikeouts from Cruz. The bottom of the third was where the Trojans put the game to bed. Six consecutive batters got on base, extending the lead to 12-0 before a pickoff throw and a strikeout ended the inning.
“Our team did a good job keeping the energy high,” junior Gidget Smith said.
Cruz struck out the side again in the fourth, and while the Trojans also struggled to score in their half, their lead was never in danger. In the final inning, the Grizzlies attempted to swing at more pitches, but Cruz recorded three more strikeouts to seal the win.
“One strength of our team is that we are very well-connected,” Cruz said. “We know how to work well with each other.”
This win proves the Trojans are ready to win league and make a deep run during CIF.
“This game is a reflection of how well we have been doing this season,” Cruz said. “The progress we have made as a team is amazing.”
The team looks forward to improving their record in an away game against Irvine on April 7.
