by MARK CAUL
The Lehman Lady Lobos did everything they possibly could to secure their first-ever softball playoff berth on Monday night.
Unfortunately, San Marcos did just a little bit more.
Nikki Antomas raced home from third base on a wild pitch to give San Marcos the only run they would need on a night in which Jessica Villapando struck out 11 Lady Lobos and surrendered only five hits in a hard fought 1-0 win at Rattler Softball Complex.
“That was an exciting softball game but I think I may have aged a little bit tonight,” San Marcos head coach Cathy Stoughton said. “Jessica was brilliant and our defense really made some great plays to give her the support she needed.”
Antomas was the only San Marcos player to reach third base as Lehman’s Ashleigh Hildebrand held the Lady Rattlers to two hits the entire night.
For Lehman, they could only lament a couple of crucial base running errors that helped squander key opportunities when they needed them most.
After Jessica Gonzales walked to open the top of the seventh and then advanced to second on a passed ball, Liz Valderaz hit a bloop-single that fell into shallow left field.
Gonzales hesitated slightly at second base before making a late charge toward third and was thrown out by a few steps.
From there, Cydney Ervin grounded out and Feliciana Torres popped out to right field, ending Lehman’s postseason chances.
“We had our chances but we just couldn’t get the big hits when we needed them,” Lehman head coach Nicole Herrera said. “Give them credit. They played great defense.”
San Marcos right fielder Danielle Doria helped quell another scoring opportunity for Lehman in the third inning with a nice running catch to retire Monique Johnson with Ervin on third base and two outs.
Lehman (20-10, 4-7) will close out their best season in school history with a home game against Del Valle.
