Vaqueros trade shutouts with Canyons

SBCC's Madison McNamee tossed a two-hit shutout in a 6-0 softball win on Friday, then Canyons came back and posted a 3-0 shutout of its own in the nightcap at Pershing Park.

Alyssa-Rae Jewell went 2-4 and stole home in the sixth inning of the opener. Monica Salas drove in two runs with a two-out single in the third that made it 3-0.

McNamee, a freshman from Cabrillo High, took a no-hitter into the sixth. Nicole Maliniemi broke it up with a ground-ball single to right with two outs.

"Pretty much all my pitches were working but I have to give it up for my defense," said McNamee (5-1), who walked two and struck out two. "I wouldn't have had that success without the defense.

"I'm excited about our team this year. We have a lot to bring to every game. We're going to come back with a fired-up attitude next week."

Shortstop Delainy Ogan was outstanding on defense in both games, making a diving catch on a ball behind third base on the second batter of the day. She had 11 putouts and assists in the two games, including seven in Game 2.

The Vaqueros, ranked No. 11 in Southern Cal, are 7-2 on the year. The Cougars, the No. 10 team in So Cal, are 5-3.

"That was a great effort by Madison, taking a no-hitter into the sixth," said coach Paula Congleton. "She did a great job on the mound and we came out aggressive at the plate. We changed very little in our lineup for the second game but our bats just fell asleep. That's frustrating for us as coaches.

"How do you dominate a team 6-0 and then come out and allow the opponent to control every situation on the field?"

Ashley Russo pitched a three-hitter in the second game, limiting the Vaqueros to one baserunner in the first five innings. Shortstop Cheyenne Steward went 2-4 and her solo homer leading off the fifth boosted the Cougar lead to 2-0.

The visitors got their first run in the third on a mental error by the Vaqueros. The second baseman and first baseman let a two-out fly drop between them and the Cougars took advantage with two straight hits, including an RBI single by Kianna Holder.

The Vaqueros popped up or flied out 11 times in Game 2

"We had a lot of mental errors in the second game," Congleton added. "I just told our team that they're not a rookie team any more. We have enough games under our belt that we shouldn't be making those mistakes. We'll get back to the grind on Monday and see if we can't get them to be more aggressive at the plate."

The Vaqueros will spend the next month on the road with a 12-game road trip, starting Tuesday at L.A. Mission with the first pitch at 2:30 p.m.