San Marcos softball celebrated Senior Day with a strong all-around performance and an 8-1 Channel League win over Pacifica on Tuesday in Santa Barbara.
The Royals began the day with a Senior Day ceremony to celebrate the class of Solana Sandoval, Reese Large, Jess Vega and Cece Contreras.
“I am so happy to celebrate our seniors and all of their hard work over the last four years,” San Marcos head coach Emily Dietz said. “Days like this can be tricky because there’s a lot of emotion and buildup before the game.
“The girls were able to focus that energy at the start of the game to hold Pacifica and score two in the bottom of the first. Each of our seniors has given so much love and effort and energy into this program; it was great to honor them.”
The Royals’ two first-inning runs came courtesy of an RBI sacrifice fly by Contreras and an Isa Malarkey RBI double. San Marcos never gave up the lead from there, marching to the comfortable win.
After a scoreless second, the Royals added three more runs in the third, thanks in part to RBI singles off the bats of Sutera Raring and Caroline Wang.
The San Marcos offense kept it rolling in the fourth and fifth innings as Malarkey and Piper Kittle each blasted solo homers and the eighth and final run came in to score on a fielder’s choice.
Kittle’s big fly was the first of her high school career and capped off a 2-for-4 performance. Meanwhile, Malarkey went 2-for-2 with two RBI, two runs scored and two walks.
“We know [Kittle] has been due; she’s been so close in other games and practices,” Dietz said. “I’m so happy for her. She works hard in practice and is very coachable.”
While the offense supplied the cushion, Lucy Dessert was on cruise control in the circle. She allowed just one run on two hits while striking out nine en route to the complete-game win.
San Marcos (13-10, 6-5 Channel League) will head down to Pacifica on Friday to round out Channel League play.