Facing defending NCS Division II champion Concord on Wednesday, Bishop O'Dowd got a huge performance from junior pitcher Elizabeth Avery, lifting the Dragons to an 8-0 semifinal victory and a berth in Saturday's title game.
Avery struck out 14 and allowed just two hits in the complete game effort, and the Dragons scratched across single runs in the fourth and sixth innings before exploding for a six-spot in the top of the seventh.
"It just seems like Elizabeth (Avery) gets better and better every time out. It was a close game for a long time, and she put forth an incredible performance," said Bishop O'Dowd coach Mike Cobb. "She changed speeds, hit her spots, and fielded her position well. They only hit one ball to the outfield all game. She was physically prepared and mentally strong."
With the game scoreless after three innings, junior Nicole Hammoude led off the top of the fourth by battling at the plate to draw an eight-pitch walk. Michael Edwards-Gonzales then sacrificed Hammoude to second with her bunt in front of the plate, and Hammoude took another base on a passed ball during Jayla Dailey's at-bat. When Dailey lined a hard ground ball into right field, the verbal Cal commit raced home with the first run of the game.
"Nicole is so good for us in every aspect of the game, and she has set a great example for our younger players entering the program," Cobb added. "She is going to be so good for the Cal program."
O'Dowd added to the lead in the top of the sixth, after Frankie Hammoude led off the inning with a single. Nicole Hammoude also reached base, and once again, Edwards-Gonzales laid down a sacrifice bunt, this time moving both runners into scoring position. Dailey followed with a single to right, scoring Frankie Hammoude for a 2-0 lead.
The nail in the coffin for the Minutemen came during the top of the seventh, and it happened quickly. Bianca Pahler drew a leadoff walk, Avery singled back to the mound, and Marissa Petty's bunt loaded the bases. That brought up Frankie Hammoude, and the Oregon State-bound slugger unloaded a grand slam to left field, making the lead 6-0. Three batters later, Dailey added a two-run homer to complete the scoring.
"Frankie is hands down the best player I have ever seen, and Jayla has really matured for us," Cobb said. "The game seems to have really slowed down for Jayla in recent weeks."
With the win, O'Dowd will now face Carondelet for the NCS Division II championship, 2:30 pm Saturday at Diablo Valley College. The Cougars beat Livermore, 5-1, in the other semifinal, getting a one-hit, 10-strikeout performance from senior pitcher Sofia Earle.
