Season Ends for Palihi Softball Squad

The old saying "Good things come to those who wait" certainly didn't apply to the Palisades High varsity softball team when it finally got around to playing its City Invitational quarterfinal game at Fanklin.

After two postponements due to rain and then a last-minute time change, the teams finally took to the diamond at Franklin High in Los Angeles on Thursday afternoon and it was there that the Dolphins' remarkable season came to an end in a 4-3 loss in eight tension-filled innings.

If Palisades' eight-inning 6-5 victory over Lincoln in the previous round was a nerve-racking affair, Thursday's contest must have felt like deja' vu for Coach Ray Marsden.

"Our offense just couldn't get going for some reason, and we were only able to get five hits--all of them singles," Marsden said. "We were able to get on base through errors and walks, too, but some early base running mistakes and tough calls that didn't go our way prevented us from taking the early lead we wanted."

The game was scoreless until the botton of the fifth when the third-seeded Panthers (12-7) plated two runs. Palisades, seeded No. 11, immediately responded in the top of the sixth, scoring three runs with two outs to take the lead.

Selma Cortez started the rally with a single and advanced to second on an error. Freshman Taleigh Williams hit an RBI single through the box to score Cortez, then stole second to move into scoring position. Prudence Brando hit a line drive into the center field gap to score Williams and alertly took second on the throw home.

Pitcher Alexis Muir helped her own cause with a bloop single into right field and pinch-runner Tara Farahdel scored from second base for the go-ahead run. The Panthers tied the score in the bottom of the sixth and Palisades (14-8-3) stranded a runner in the top of the seventh and again in the top of the eighth. The Dolphins stranded six runners in the game.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Franklin sent junior varsity call-up Vanessa Senteno to the plate to pinch-hit and the sophomore drove a ball deep to center field for a walk-off inside-the-park home run.

"We had no scouting information on her because she was a JV," Marsden said. "There was nothing we could do about it, it was just a great pitch and a great hit."

It was a long bus ride back to campus, but it gave Marsden time to reflect on what had happened and how the loss might be a necessary step in his team's evolution.

"Unfortunately we lost, but it was an awesome game," Marsden said. "It came down to homefield advantage and having last-ups. The girls now might have a better understanding of what it takes to be a champion and how important every regular season game is so that we get home field advantage throughout the playoffs and stop having to travel to these unfamiliar and far away fields."

Fifth-year Franklin Coach Maribel Cortez anticipated a tough game and it was. "Palisades is a league champion, so they obviously know how to win," she said. "We hadn't been to the playoffs in five years until last season when we lost in the first round to North Hollywood. We wanted to go further this season and we have."

Franklin finished third in the Northern League behind Lincoln and Marshall--both of which made the City championship playoffs. The Panthers received another solid outing from freshman pitcher Lauren Jackson, who allowed one earned run on five hits with three strikeouts. Muir allowed eight hits and struck out four.

Though Palisades' season is over, it was a breakthrough year for the program.

"The girls should be very proud of what they accomplished this season," Marsden continued. "They raised the bar on expectations around here, and with losing only one senior and JV being undefeated, things look good for next year."

The Dolphins won the Western League title for the first time, beating perennial power Westchester twice in the process, then upset the No. 6 seed in the playoffs and took the No. 3 seed into extra innings. What's more, Palisades graduates only one player (Farahdel).

"My short term goal is to win Invitational next year," Marsden said. "The long term goal is to never lose the Western League again and be in the championship bracket in two years permanently."

Junior varsity playoffs were eliminated this season because of cutbacks, but coaches got together and organized an allowable JV "tournament" for league champions and other teams that deserved a playoff spot. Palisades (18-0) was seeded No. 3 behind San Pedro and Granada Hills.

The Dolphins' JV squad won its first game 4-1 over sixth-seeded Grant and plays Granada Hills Saturday, with the winner advancing to the championship game later in the day and the loser playing either San Pedro or Lincoln for the bronze medal.