Robert Benson photo
Granite Hills' Kylee Wilson scores as La Costa Canyon's Nina Magliozzi awaits the throw in the fifth.
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POWAY – Granite Hills sophomore Jenny Lahitte has a new pregame routine, and the Eagles softball team is going to hang a new banner from the gym rafters.
After Lahitte did some extra preparation the night before yesterday's section Division I championship game, she dominated La Costa Canyon, holding the Mavericks to three hits as Granite Hills won the school's first softball championship with a 7-1 triumph at Sportsplex USA.
“It's kind of funny – I slept all night with a softball in my bed,” Lahitte said. “I was so excited because this is the first time we've made it to a championship. I practiced my spins before I went to sleep because I wanted everything to be just right.”
There was no better description for her outing as Lahitte retired the first seven Mavericks she faced – five on strikeouts – and allowed just two LCC runners past second base all evening.
“Jenny sets the tone for our team,” Granite Hills coach Erin Coyne said. “She's very composed, and we have a great defense to back her up.”
Third-seeded LCC (23-9) couldn't say the same about its play in the field. The Mavericks committed five errors and made sloppy plays that helped prolong rallies for the No. 4 Eagles.
With the score tied 1-1 in the fifth inning, Granite Hills (24-7-1) broke things open. With junior Megan Belio on second base and two outs, the Eagles exploded for four straight hits to score four runs. Senior Amanda Omahen (2-for-4) started the scoring with an RBI single, followed by a run-scoring double by junior Jill Sciarra (3-for-4).
“Amanda has been due,” Coyne said. “We play every inning as if it's zero-zero, and you can't let up.”
After the Eagles scored five runs in the inning, Lahitte took over. She allowed just two LCC runners the rest of the game, and Granite Hills cruised to its historic win.
The Eagles finished with 11 hits and chased Mavericks starter Michelle McEachron after 4 2/3 innings.
“I just can't believe it,” Lahitte said. “Yesterday we said we'd prove everybody wrong. We practice in our gym and the softball team doesn't have (a championship banner). I said we were going to put our year up there.”
Zach Jones: (760) 752-6751; zach.jones@tlnews.net
