VILLA PARK — Esperanza High’s softball team pulled another surprise from its bag of upsets on Thursday, May 20. But even by the Aztecs’ standards, this one followed a stunning plot.
Despite playing without five starters, the No. 5 Aztecs knocked off No. 3 Villa Park and standout pitcher Sydney Somerndike 1-0 to move into a tie with the Spartans with two games remaining in the Crestview League.
Pitcher Emily Gomez led visiting Esperanza (15-3, 3-1) by firing a one-hitter and laying down a sacrifice bunt in the fifth inning that set the stage for Makenna Milliman’s two-out single to score Kaylee Barkley from second base.
Esperanza’s Emily Gomez (15) delivers a pitch against Villa Park during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Esperanza’s Sharyn Duncan (10) tags out Villa Park’s Lauren Simon (33) as Simon attempts to steal second base in the final out of their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Esperanza’s Emily Gomez (15) congratulates Kaylee Barkley (44) after Barkley scored the only run against Villa Park during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Villa Park pitcher Syd Somerndike walks off the filed at the end of the top of the 5th inning after walking an Esperanza and giving up the only run in the game during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Esperanza’s Hayley Cox (00) chases down a fly ball in right field against Villa Park during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Esperanza’s Emily Gomez (15), left, Sabrina Seaton (25), center, Sharyn Duncan (10) celebrate after Duncan made the final out against Villa Park during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Esperanza’s Emily Gomez (15) delivers a pitch against Villa Park during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Villa Park’s Syd Somerndike (12) delivers a pitch against Esperanza during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Villa Park’s Claire Duckworth (26) goes after a fly ball against Esperanza during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Villa Park’s Syd Somerndike (12) delivers a pitch against Esperanza during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Esperanza’s Emily Gomez (15) delivers a pitch against Villa Park during their Crestview League softball game in Villa Park, CA, on Thursday, May 20, 2021. Esperanza defeated Villa Park, 1 to 0. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)
“Emily was on a mission,” Esperanza coach Ed Tunstall said of Gomez, who earlier this season led the Aztecs past then-nationally top-ranked Chino Hills. “She’s got a demeanor out there that she’s just unflappable and she hits her spots.”
Gomez (10-2), a senior bound for nursing school at Boise State, came two outs away from a perfect game against the Spartans (18-2, 3-1). Andreya Flores laced a sharp single to left with one out in the seventh, but Gomez recovered to induce the next batter to fly out to right.
Esperanza recorded the final out at second base as sophomore shortstop Sharyn Duncan kept the tag on a would-be base stealer at second base moments after the throw by catcher Isabella Altamirano and the slide.
“I always keep the tag on when I have the ball in my glove,” Duncan said of the play.
In the fifth, Barkley raced home after the ball was bobbled in the outfield, resulting in the unearned run against Somerndike (18-2), recently nominated for Gatorade state player of the year.
“We’ve always been the underdogs,” Gomez said. “It’s the way we work, I guess.”
Tunstall declined to comment on why the starters were missing. He called up junior varsity players Hayley Cox and Erin Koo, and added Ashley McCormick “out of retirement” to make a 10-player roster.
“They were just unavailable,” Tunstall said of the missing starters.
On Tuesday, Esperanza forfeited its nonleague game against El Dorado because it didn’t have enough players, he said
Gomez displayed strong control and worked ahead in counts en route to eight strikeouts. She didn’t record a walk while facing one batter over the minimum.
Somerndike, a junior committed to Arizona, also fired a one-hitter, walked three and racked up 13 strikeouts.
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