A veteran snake charmer will always caution you to never take your eye off the snake.  If you’re trying to put it away, focus on it until it’s completely caged.

That’s a good way to explain the Moore League softball game at Lisa Fernandez Field at Mayfair Park last night.  The dangerous Lakewood lineup played snake, and Millikan pitcher Liz Gonzalez played charmer. The senior hurler had one of her best outings and kept the Lancers in check, but only until there were two outs in the late innings.  That’s when Lakewood struck, scoring all of the runs with two outs in a 6-0 victory.

Gonzalez got the call and answered, going the distance and scattering nine hits.  However, an unearned run in the second inning gave Lancer starter Nicole Warren all she needed, even though, “I didn’t even know I was going to pitch,” said the junior righty.  “(Miramontes) likes to do that.”

“I saw it in her body language before the game,” said Lakewood coach Andy Miramontes.  “She was focused, and she wanted the ball.”

Warren took that ball and worked quickly towards her complete game two-hit shutout that included five strikeouts and just two walks.  She did a fantastic job getting the first-pitch strike, and that kept her pitch count low (85 total) while keeping the Ram hitters defensive.  After freshman first baseman Taylor Florentino singled with one out in the top of the first inning, Warren retired 12 straight batters and only one runner reached second base all game.

“When your friends and family are here you want to do well,” said Warren.  “But more than that it’s a rivalry game and you have to want it… I really wanted it.”

Gonzalez was just as impressive in the early going and it looked like an old-fashion pitchers duel when the senior matched 12 straight retired with seven straight of her own from the third inning to the fifth. Lakewood only mustered three hits in the first four innings as Gonzalez changed speeds and kept the Lancers off balance with the change up.  However, it was a change up in the fifth that ended the Ram comeback bid.

With two outs in the fifth frame the three senior leaders atop the lineup got it going for Lakewood as Amanda Robinson singled up the middle, Eliza Crawford was hit by a pitch, and Sarah Carrasco came to the plate. Early in the count, Gonzalez tried to sneak one of those change ups by, but it hung and Carrasco banged it off the fence in center field for a two-run double.

The Lancers added another run, and then an inning later after Gonzalez got the first two outs again, Janelle Hayes crushed a triple and Shelby Blair’s single drove her in.  Blair would come around and score on Robinson’s RBI single to cap the scoring.

You know you were at a good game when all the coaches can do is talk about the opposing pitcher. Miramontes said, “I have to tip my cap to (Gonzalez) … she shut us down there for awhile.”

Millikan head coach Don Harper added, “(Warren) had us off balance all night, she pitched incredible… I’m pleased, but you have to score if you want to win… (Gonzalez) made one mistake, and you can’t do that to (Lakewood) their lineup is too strong.”
 
The Lancers move to 7-0 in the Moore League and will face second-place Wilson on Tuesday.  Millikan falls to 4-3 in league and will travel north for the Thousand Oaks Tournament before they play Wilson and Poly next week.