Thursday’s win against Cerritos College was a tale of two halves, LBCC was down 2-0 midway through the fourth, then put up six in the final three frames in front of a loud home crowd.
Another packed house was the backdrop for a classic win, with fans today being louder than usual.
This one seemed special today with players in tears, accompanied by smiles, after gutting out a win that won’t be forgotten any time soon.
“That was a lot of energy. I think it was the most this season that we’ve let out as a team,” Alia Marquez Said, one of the team’s captains. “We’ve really gelled and come together, after this game especially. It was a big game for us. I think we’re good now.”
The scoring started in the bottom of the fourth when pinch runner Jasmine Delgado scored from first on a double laced to right center field by the game’s hero Gladys Garcia.
Problems surfaced in the game before the sixth inning’s bat on ball thunderstorm.
Alia Marquez was thrown out at first on a bunt and Haley Veazie was doubled up at third as a result of a block of the base by the Cerritos catcher, Vicky Najera.
“An obstruction is when the defensive player is stationary in front of the base before they have the ball, and that’s definitely what happened there.” Coach Martinez said postgame. “But we didn’t let it bother us and we kept going with the bats.”
The five runs scored in the bottom of the sixth inning is all the evidence needed to prove Martinez’s statement.
After fouling a ball off of her foot, Jade Whittman reached on a line drive dropped by Cerritos right fielder Angelica Gonzolez. Ileana Rivera walked on a full count while the crowd noise was ascending.
Cerritos tried to settle the mood with a mound visit. But Gladys Garcia wasn’t going to let that stop the no out rally that was in the works.
On a 1-1 count Garcia hit a moon shot over the left field fence for a three run home run.
The crowd erupted and everyone supporting the home team was happily on their feet. The Vikings were huddled around home plate to greet Gladys. On her way back to the dugout Garcia addressed the stands with a yell and a fist pump with that gratified emotion as the crowd reverberated her sentiment.
“I just got in the zone and just did it for my team. You know, I just play like it’s my last, never know when I’m going to put my cleats back on,” Gladys Garcia said as emotions were beginning to overwhelm the star of the game, “I’m just going to leave it on the field for my teammates.”
The bond that holds this group together is considered to be something special.
“It’s a great thing. It’s really emotional, your teammates come together, and we have each other’s back. It’s really emotional. It’s a great feeling.” Garcia said about the scene after her go ahead home run. “I’m just speechless”
The Vikings look to carry their momentum into their matchup against College of the Canyons in a doubleheader tomorrow at home. The first game is at noon and the second game is at 2 p.m.