Problems in the Field Prove Costly as Mira Costa Falls 7-6 to Lakeside

It was a long trip on the 91 Freeway heading east as the girls from Manhattan Beach traveled to Lake Elsinore for the first round of CIF softball playoffs, but it was the trip back that hurt.

Four early errors proved to be too costly as Mira Costa fell 7-6 to Lakeside High School, despite overcoming a 4-1 deficit and holding the lead going into the seventh and final inning.

The Mustangs' fielding let them down early as Lakeside picked up a pair of unearned runs in both the second and fourth innings to give them a 4-1 lead through four.

“We gave them four runs early on," said Mira Costa head coach Richard Amberik. "We made four errors altogether and some days you have that kind of day, but that was definitely the difference."

Amberik has said all season that this team’s bats most often come alive near the fourth inning and later in the game.

True to form, with one out in the fifth inning, senior Kamyle Glover picked up a single and stole second base before sister Taylor Glover was able to bring her home on a single of her own.

Stefani Lajeunesse, who hit a solo homerun in the first inning, was hit by a Jasmine Smithson-Willett pitch and executed a double steal with Glover giving number five hitter Meghan von Behren two runners in scoring position.

“She [Smithson-Willett] is one of the best we’ve faced, said catcher Katie Saunders. "We had to make some adjustments early on and then we started hitting better.” 

Von Behren who has been red-hot at the plate recently, knocked a triple into the outfield scoring two runs; von Behren would join them as an errant attempted throw to third sailed into the outfield allowing her to cross the plate and push the Mustangs in front at 5-4.

“This team is one of the better hitting teams I have had," Amberik said. "They picked up a lot of key ones along the way and extra-base hits, too.” 

Lakeside would tie things up in the sixth at 5-5, but it would not last long as von Behren collected her third hit and third RBI as she singled home Taylor Glover as the Mustangs regained the lead at 6-5.

With the Lancers’ season in jeopardy, senior double-threat Smithson-Willett began a rally by reaching first on a bunt single. Austen Urness singled to get runners on the corners for Lakeside.

D.J. Morones bunted down the first base line scoring Smithson-Willett and advancing Urness to third.

With the game tied, the Lancers continued their small-ball approach as Alexxis Medina dropped a perfectly placed bunt between Mustang pitcher Breanna Kelly and first baseman Chloe Krasnoff. 

Kelly came up with the ball, but was unable to get the relay to Saunders at home plate in time with Urness scoring the winning run.

“I don’t know what it was, but we just didn’t play like we usually do.  In the end we couldn’t pull it out,” Saunders said.

Sixteen-game winner Kelly held her own in a matchup with the Louisville-bound Smithson-Willett, who has all 19 wins this season for the Lancers and struck out eight (the most strikeouts this season by Mustang hitters).

“We had them beat," said Amberik. "We gave them some runs we shouldn’t have in the second and fourth on errors. If we don’t make those mistakes, we win the game 6-3."

Mira Costa outhit Lakeside 10 to 6, with von Behren and Taylor Glover leading the way, each going 3-4 at the plate.

“I thought we could go further, but I’m proud of us," said Saunders. "We worked really hard and stayed together all season."