Tiffany Kennedy-Cummings pitches perfect game in opening round of playoffs vs. Ventura. Photo courtesy of Dave Aguilera
Posted: May 06, 2017
By John M. Sherrard
(Walnut, CA) Everything went 'Perfect' for the state's third-ranked Mt. SAC Softball team in the opening game of the post-season Friday night.
A shutout, a shortened five-inning, 8-run rule contest and a perfecto thrown game by sophomore pitcher Tiffany Kennedy-Cummings gave the Mounties an 8-0 win over No. 18 seed Ventura College in the CCCAA first round.
Kennedy-Cummings faced the minimum 15 batters in the five innings and struck out eight.
It was the 20th game that the Mounties ended the game due to the 8-run rule after five innings, 10 of which were shutouts.
"With a good defense and the run support behind me I had total confidence in my team (Friday)," said Kennedy-Cummings, who was recently named to the All-State team. "Everything went well for me and we take everything one game at a time."
In the best two out of three games, Mt. SAC will play Saturday for the right to advance to the Super Regionals next weekend. Game 2 is scheduled to start at 2:00 p.m.
The Mounties, seeded second in the Southern California Regionals for the playoffs, improved to 36-3 and it was their 14th consecutive win.
Four Mounties collected two hits apiece as the team totaled 11 in the game. They were sophomores left fielder Aleyah Wilbon (2 for 3, 2 runs, SB), catcher Taylor Jaurique (2-3, run, 2 RBIs, dbl.), center fielder Bree Maikai (2-3, 2 runs, 2 SBs) and right fielder Alyssa Rasso (2-3, run, 3 RBIs, dbl., SB).
The Mounties took a 1-0 lead in the first inning after Wilbon singled, stole second, moved over to third on a fly out to right and came home on a single by Jaurique.
Jaurique was recently named to the All-State team and was the Player of the Year in conference.
Four more runs crossed the plate for the 5-0 lead in the third on a leadoff solo blast to left field by sophomore shortstop Kayla Sok (1-2, run, 2 RBIs), a run-scoring double by Jaurique, scoring Wilbon and two unearned runs (Jaurique and Maikai) came in after an error by the Pirate left fielder.
A single run in the fourth (sac fly by Sok), and two more in the fifth inning finished the game.
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630