WIN TWO AND YOU'RE IN

Photo by Bruce Jacobsen

SYLMAR - The Marauder softball team split a pair with LA Mission College and crushed Santa Monica College and is now two victories away from wrapping up second place in the Western States Conference-Blue Division standings and a berth in the playoffs.

AVC will travel to Bakersfield College on Tuesday and should it win both games will move on to the playoffs. However, should the Marauders lose both games, the Renegades will secure the No. 2 in conference. Finally, if the teams split it would remain to be seen which team would enter the playoffs.

The Marauders (19-18, 12-7) had no problems with Bakersfield on Mar. 31 as they handed the Rengades (16-21-1, 12-7) an 11-3 loss.

On Tuesday, AVC lost a close 2-1 decision to LA Mission, before coming back in the second to easily defeat the Eagles, 14-6 in the second.

LA Mission's Nicole Perez shut down the Marauders' offensive attack in the first game as she pitched a complete game allowing only run, which came  in the top of the seventh inning.

It was a good thing that AVC had a short memory as it came back in the second game and ripped Perez for 16 hits, including seven doubles, a triple and a home run by Priscella Panizo. Panizo and Angelica Ochoa each had four RBI and Dolly Stevens added three.

"I'm very happy how well the girls played this week. Naelyse (Garcia) has done a phenomenal job taking on the pitching duties all by herself," AVC head coach Cindy Vargas said. "We are hoping she can continue to pitch well and that our defense will play well behind her. I also hope we can keep hitting the ball like we have. As I figured it would, Tuesday's games at Bakersfield will make or break us. It will be fun."