SOFTBALL: Milpitas Shuts Down Los Altos in El Camino Opener

The Score: Milpitas 1, Los Altos 0.

The Stars: Milpitas pitchers Alexis Pommier and Marie Mosqueda combined to keep the Los Altos High softball team off the board in a 1-0 shutout victory Monday afternoon at Milpitas High. The game was the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League El Camino Division opener for both schools.

Pommier, a sophomore, pitched four innings and gave up four hits. The Milpitas hurler danced through some trouble, leaving five Los Altos runner stranded in the first four innings of action.

Mosqueda, a freshman southpaw, finished the game to earn the save. In her three innings of work, the lefty navigated through a few rough patches to help her team secure a key league victory.

The Turning Point: With Milpitas (3-5, 1-0 SCVAL El Camino) ahead 1-0 going into the late innings, Los Altos starting pitcher and team captain Aly Goldberg pounded a lead-off triple to the wall in right field to kick off the top of the sixth. Showing poise beyond her years, Mosqueda snatched up a comebacker to record the first out, then induced back-to-back groundballs to quell the late Eagles rally.

Los Altos (3-2, 0-1 SCVAL El Camino) threatened again in the final inning, putting two runners on with only one out. However, there would be no late game heroics from the visitors on this day.

A fielder’s choice and a pop out wrapped up the 1-0 victory for the Trojans.

The Quote: “I have a very strong defense behind me,” Milpitas starting pitcher Alexis Pommier said after her teams win. “It’s always a sigh of relief to score a run early. I am utterly confident in everyone on my team. We learned what we have to do to win in the non-league games.”

What's Next: Milpitas will take part in the annual Charlie Miguel Tournament held at the Twin Creeks Sports Complex in Sunnyvale this weekend. Play begins on Friday and will run through Sunday.

Bottom Line: Slick fielding sophomore Kiana Aguilar contributed in a big way for the Trojans on Monday. Aguilar flashed her solid fielding skills at first base in the first couple of innings then moved out to finish the game in the outfield.

Aguilar chased down a hot shot that looked to be headed towards the gap in left field to end the Los Altos half of the fifth inning. She also provided the lone RBI of the day for either side off a line shot single into left field.

Junior Kianna Ezell was hit by a pitch to open the frame and scored off the smooth single to put Milpitas ahead1-0 after two innings of play. The Trojans will look to duplicate the strong defense and quality pitching formula against the loaded field of quality teams at the Charlie Miguel tourney this weekend.

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