SPRING VALLEY — A second-team All-CIF selection last year as a sophomore because of her ability to hit and pitch, Steele Canyon High School’s Marina Gonzalez came into play Wednesday with an inflated 5.77 ERA.
Pointing out that Gonzalez was late to softball because she wrestled all the way to the state meet, Cougars coach Kevin Pearlstein was not the least bit concerned about his right-hander.
“She’ll be just fine,” said Pearlstein.
On a bright but cool and breezy afternoon on the Steele Canyon campus, Gonzalez demonstrated why her coach carries so much confidence in her. In a Grossmont Hills League opener, Gonzalez toed the rubber and pitched a 1-0 complete game win over West Hills. The Wolf Pack came in averaging 5.5 runs per game.
Gonzalez allowed seven hits, including two doubles. The Wolf Pack put runners in scoring position three times. But Gonzalez, with the help of Gold Glove-worthy defense, escaped the jams and finished with a shutout.
“Marina was good,” said Pearlstein. “She made the pitches when she needed.”
“She was hitting all her spots,” said Cougars catcher Makenzie Meyer. “When we needed to avoid certain batters, she knew what she needed to do.”
While Gonzalez’s ERA was a bit unflattering coming into the game, there was nothing wrong with her hitting. She came in batting .400. As a sophomore, she hit .369 and led the Cougars with 34 RBI.
On Wednesday, she drove in the game’s only run. Ily Barcklay, the section’s reigning D1 track and field champion in the 100 and 200 meters, led off the bottom of the first with a bunt single. After Barclay advanced to second on a ground out, Gonzalez knocked her in with a hard single up the middle.
It turned out to be the game’s only run.
A 155-pound wrestler, Gonzalez was eliminated from the state meet on Feb. 28 in Bakersfield. The next day, she pitched against Mater Dei Catholic, the No. 2-ranked team in the section.
Normally, Gonzalez pitches in games or practice four times a week. During wrestling season, she tried to stay sharp by pitching twice a week. Against Mater Dei, she gave up six runs in less than three innings.
“Wrestling helps me in pitching because I get stronger and faster,” said Gonzalez. “But it takes a while to get comfortable on the mound.”
The Cougars turned in numerous excellent defensive plays behind Gonzalez. Third baseman Haley Trujillo made a diving stop to her left for the third out in the third inning with a runner on third. The speedy Barclay took away a double with a sprinting catch in rightfield gap.
Second baseman Bailey Evans and freshman first baseman Sophia Jackel also made nifty stops.
“My defense was amazing,” said Gonzalez. “I couldn’t have asked for better defense.
The game ended on a defensive gem. With two outs and a runner on first, West Hills freshman Reegan Veltre beat out a bunt. When the ball was dropped at first, Haylee Kai beat the throw to third. But when Veltre tried to advance to second, left fielder Kayala Hopkins, who was covering third, fired to second, nailing Veltre.
In celebration, Steele Canyon’s infielders flung their gloves in the air.
Ava Goodman was the hard-luck loser for West Hills (8-4-1). The senior pitched six innings, gave up just four hits, striking out three, hitting two batters and walking one.
“She brought the energy,” said West Hills coach Angelina McGuire. “Ava has a real calm, confident presence in the circle. That definitely motivates everyone to pay well behind her. Every coach dreams of having a pitcher who hits her spots.”
Steele Canyon (6-5-1) lost in the D1 finals a year ago to Otay Ranch. Come Friday, the Cougars will be formidably tougher when two transfer pitchers become eligible, sophomore Payton Sos, formerly from Granite Hills, and junior Belle Will (Patrick Henry).
Here’s how confident Pearlstein is in how his team will play the rest of the way: the top eight teams, based on CIF power rankings, qualify for the Open Division.
Said Pearlstein: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re an Open Division team.”
