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Oakland Tech buries Lowell
By Jimmy Durkin, STAFF WRITER
May 17, 2008
SAN FRANCISCO - It wasn't supposed to be this easy. That was a popular opinion after the Oakland Tech High softball team hit the ball all over the place and took advantage of several Lowell miscues to win the opener of the TransBay Series 17-2 Friday at Lang Field.
"We've got to forget this game," said Tech leadoff hitter Devina Brown. "This game never happened. We've got to play (Tuesday) like we've never seen them play before."
The series will shift Tuesday to Laney College for Game 2 of the best-of-3 series as Tech will look to close out its second straight TransBay title.
"We're excited," Bulldogs coach Rosemary Whisenton said. "For the seniors, this could be their last game."
The first inning was nightmarish for the Cardinals (21-4). They committed four errors that helped the Bulldogs (12-1) push across four runs. Two runs scored directly off errors, and Marika Zumbro drove in the other two with a two-run single.
The bats stayed lively in the second inning. Freshman Tiarra Wilson doubled home a run, Zumbro delivered another RBI, Shakila Cole plated a run on a fielder's choice and Ymonne Davidson hit a two-run double.
"That really set the tone for the game," Brown said.
Lowell got on the board with two runs in the second inning, but the Bulldogs put up five more runs in the third. Tech had four hits in the inning and was helped by three more Lowell errors in taking a 14-2 lead.
The Bulldogs were poised to cause more damage, but Davidson's rocket down the third-base line was snagged by Lowell third baseman Sylvia Tam, who stepped on third for the second out and threw to first for a triple play.
While Tech got production up and down the lineup, the top four in the order were particularly lethal.
Brown, Makayla West, Wilson and Zumbro combined to reach base 15 times, score 13 runs and drive in 10 runs. Zumbro was 4-for-4 with six RBIs and three runs scored; and Brown was 3-for-4 with a hit by pitch, four runs scored and a stolen base.
Zumbro also was tough on the mound, striking out 11 in five innings.
Rubye Chu was the offensive star for Lowell, going 2-for-4, with two RBIs and a run scored.
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