Golden Valley softball earns 1st win with strong pitching and a timely hit

Golden Valley's Sophia Medellin (12) waits for the ball and makes the tag at second base on Lancaster baserunner Alvssa Tami (3) at Golden Valley on Wednesday. Dan Watson/The Signal
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Golden Valley High softball believes junior pitcher Cassidy Cangemi will keep them in just about every game.

So winning, naturally, will come down to the bats. Wednesday they came through when it mattered.

Sophomore Nicole Smart hit a sixth-inning double to plate freshman Olivia Vasquez for the Grizzlies’ only run in a 1-0 home win over Lancaster.

It was Golden Valley’s first win of the young season (they’re 1-2) and the first win of Daniel Soto’s coaching career at the school.

Golden Valley’s Nicole Smart (5) hits and RBI double in the 5th inning against Lancaster at Golden Valley on Wednesday. Dan Watson/The Signal

The game ball, if there was one, would’ve gone to Cangemi, who pitched a complete-game shutout in the circle.

“She’s our anchor,” said Soto, who’s in his first year. “No matter what she does, that’s where we’re going to go.”

Soto called Wednesday the Grizzlies’ best offensive performance, pointing to a number of well-hit balls that were right at Lancaster defenders.

“I thought we swung the bat more aggressively today,” he said.

This season, Soto replaced Hugo Castillo, who led Golden Valley to an 8-12 overall record last year. The Grizzlies went 2-8 in Foothill League play.

Other scores

Arcadia 5, Canyon 4

The Cowboys scored three runs in the sixth and another in the seventh, but the rally fell short at home Wednesday.

Alexis DeYoung went 1-of-3 with three RBIs for Canyon. Cowboys pitcher Jessica Goodspeed tossed five innings, allowing three earned runs on eight hits. She struck out four and walked one.

Hart 9, Moorpark 4

The Indians improved to 2-1 on the year with Wednesday’s home win. Hart next plays at Chatsworth today. Hart went 1-1 at its home tournament on Saturday, losing 9-8 to Calabasas and beating Oxnard 8-6.

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