Carpinteria dominates in league win over Malibu

After Carpinteria’s softball field was hit with over four inches of rain over the weekend, the team got back to action –after a lot of work by the district grounds crew – and the Warriors picked up their second win of the year in a league game at home against Malibu, with a dominant performance all around in the field and at the plate.

Junior ace Ashlee Mora earned the win for the Warriors, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out six batters in the game.

“Ashlee was locked in today, she was in the zone,” said Carpinteria coach Matt Mora.

The rest of the starting lineup played strong in the field, backing up the pitcher with great defense all game long.

BY RYAN P. CRUZ • PHOTOS BY ROSANA SWING

“Our defense really showed up today,” Mora said. “We know we have a talented group, and today they all worked well together.”

Carpinteria scored two runs in the first inning, with senior Renata Martinez taking a base after being hit by a pitch and scoring off a single by Mora. Junior Alexiana Jaimes then brought Mora in with a sacrifice fly to take a 2-0 lead.

“I am happy with how the team showed up today with their bats,” coach Mora said.

The Warriors finished with 10 hits in the game, including one by senior Sofie Olvera, a first-year player who earned her first hit of the season as a pinch hitter. Senior Natalie Vilchez led

Carpinteria with two hits on four trips to the batter’s box, including a triple and two RBIs in the 18-1 win.

Earlier in the week, Mora and Martinez were recognized for their recent play at the Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table.

Mora, the junior pitcher, has become a leader in the circle for the Warriors, pitching 20 of the team’s 29 innings this season, with 24 strikeouts and two wins. On offense, she is batting .333 and has scored a team-high eight runs this season.

Martinez, the senior shortstop, returned to the team after taking a year off of softball, and has already provided a spark for the Warriors, batting .444 overall, including a perfect 3-for-3 per- formance on Feb. 23 against Nordhoff.

“I am extremely proud of Renata and Ashlee for their hard work on the field, in the classroom and in our community,” coach Mora said. “Both of these ladies are role models for our team and have tremendous leadership capabilities.”

After a loss at Bishop Diego, 11-7, Carpinteria is now 2-5-1 overall and 2-3 in the Citrus Coast League heading into this week with games against St. Bonaventure, Foothill Tech and Channel Islands.