After finishing 17-15 last season, the Eagles finished this season with an improved record at 20-13 as the Eagles look to return to postseason softball. One thing that has gone well for the Eagles has been their defense; their matchup against the East Los Angeles Huskies highlighted that reality. The Eagles won 1-0 despite the Huskies getting more hits than the Eagles. Overall, the Eagles lead the Inland Empire Athletic Conference (IEAC) in double plays with 14 and have a .955 field percentage, the highest in the IEAC. The Eagles’ 14 double plays is sixth in the 3C2A. It’s safe to say that the Eagles’ defense has been a brightspot for them this season.
The Eagles rode on the backs of their defense to beat the Huskies in a low-scoring 1-0 game. An RBI single from second baseman Natalie Juarez in the first inning was all the run support the Eagles needed to win, thanks to the great showing by their defense. Starting left-handed pitcher Katryna Detert pitched six innings and struck out three batters to secure her third win of the season. The Huskies had multiple opportunities to score against Detert. Still, she was not rattled, and the Huskies stranded multiple runners, even when runners were in scoring position.
“It really helps having a defense that you can trust, and it helps you pitch better as well,” Detert said about escaping the jams she was in.
One moment of the East Los Angeles Game that stood out came in the sixth inning. The Huskies had runners on second and third base after a pair of singles and a wild pitch. With runners on second and third in the sixth inning, Detert stayed in the game. Detert forced a ground ball into shortstop Alyssa Jimenez’s glove, where she forced a double play to keep the shutout going. The Huskies had two runners in scoring position but were left empty due to the Eagles’ defense.
“She’s very competitive, so I knew she would get out of it because she has a little kill in her,” said Eagles’ coach Jessica Beaver-Brambilla about her decision to let Detert finish the sixth inning. “I trust her in that aspect, plus we’re working on some stuff like first pitch strikes and things like that for next year, so leaving her in that situation to gain knowledge and experience is only going to help her.”
The Eagles’ defense is one of the best in the state and has played a major role in the Eagles’ success this season. If the Eagles’ bats were to heat up, they’ll be tough for any team in the 3C2A to beat.
“Our defense is bar none; we make some timely plays and we’re heads up,” Beaver-Brambilla said. “We lead in double plays and back picking runners so our defense is holding us together.”
