First published in the Feb. 18 print issue of the South Pasadena Review.
The South Pasadena High School varsity softball team generated some thunder of its own on a rainy opening day as sophomore left fielder Daphne Malatesta’s grand slam powered the Tigers to a 6-1 nonleague victory over host Arcadia Rio Hondo Prep on Tuesday.
“It was a really surreal moment for me and my team as I think it will also set an expectation for how softball is to be played at South Pasadena High School,” Malatesta said.
South Pasadena (1-0 record) was also backed by dominant pitching as freshman Natalie Kan tossed 6.1 innings of one-hit ball with six strikeouts before the umpires called the game due to lightning. After allowing her only run in the second inning, the Tigers’ offense answered back with six runs in the top of the third.
Sophomore shortstop Danica Stirling and third baseman Zoe Hollingsworth each collected a double while the latter added an RBI, and freshman second baseman Emma Becerra finished 1-for-2 with an RBI.
South Pasadena is scheduled to play its third straight game on the road at Burroughs High in Burbank on Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 3:15 p.m.
