The dirt on the Menlo School-Atherton softball diamond kicks up more often that not. That suits Knights sophomore shortstop Jasmin Williams just fine. Williams got dirty for two remarkable defensive plays, helping the Knights to a pivotal 5-4 victory over visiting Castilleja-Palo Alto on Tuesday. With the win, the Knights (8-5, 8-3 Foothill) grabbed a hold of a tie for first place in the West Bay Athletic League Foothill Division with one game remaining.
The Gators (12-12, 8-3 Foothill) and Knights would tie for the Foothill title should they each win Friday. Menlo is at Pinewood-Los Altos Hills, while the Gators host The King’s Academy-Sunnyvale, which routed the Gators 15-5 in their previous meeting. The top two teams in the Foothill Division automatically qualify for the Central Coast Section playoffs. The Knights are on the brink of their first CCS berth since 2006.
“We’re going to go out and play hard at Pinewood,” Knights coach Kathy McAdams said. “You never know what is going to happen.”
Trailing 5-0 in the top of the third inning, the Gators rallied against Knights starter Kelly McConnell. Ginna Freehling singled to right-center with Aryana Yee aboard first base. Williams handled a routine grounder to force Yee at third. Amy Yamamura ripped a single to center to fill the bases. Tobi Amos then hit a grounder that McConnell touched. The ball ricocheted to Williams, who — despite being on her knees and facing home plate — threw to third to force Annie Apffel by an eyelash.
Williams dove to her right face first in the dirt, but couldn’t stop a single to left by Frances Hughes. Mandi Shore singled in two runs and Gators had sliced the lead to 5-3. Castilleja was threatening in the fourth inning when Williams backed up third baseman Estefania Avila, who barely touched a tricky ground ball by Apffel. Williams made the stop behind third base, then threw to Avila, who had recovered to force out Freehling at third. The Gators failed to score, stranding two runners.
“Jasmin Williams was lights-out on defense,” McAdams said. “She was incredible.”
“That girl is a Ninja,” said Shore of Williams. “She’s a good athlete.”
Williams was a dusty mess after the game, albeit unfazed.
“I want to make as many amazing plays as possible,” Williams said. “I like to get dirty. I feel I can stop any ball hit by any batter that comes up.”
The Knights went up 2-0 in the bottom of the first on a two-run double by McConnell. Scoring were Sophia King and Rebecca Friedman, who had doubled deep down the left-field line. Menlo added three runs in the second inning, sending nine hitters to the plate. A walk, an error and a hit batter jammed the bases full. McConnell, who had a three-hit, three-RBI afternoon, singled in one run. Successive walks forced in two more runs.
Yamamura battled her control from the outset, walking four batters and hitting three others in one-plus innings.
“Yamamura had been pitching well,” Gators coach Robert Burley said. “She had a rare tough outing. We gave Menlo too much early with the walks and the error. We got behind and we couldn’t catch up.”
Castilleja nearly caught up in the sixth when Yamamura’s third hit of the game plated Freehling. Williams, though, forced another runner at third base to end the inning. Shore singled with one out in the seventh, then was sacrificed to second by Sarah Hinstorff. McConnell got the final out on a ground ball to first, making it a winning senior day for Friedman, Avila and Serena Marini.
Shore, a freshman, led the Gators with four hits, raising her batting average to .473.
“We didn’t have our bats going at the start,” Shore said. “We were late getting going.”
“We had some things go against us,” said Burley, whose club outhit the Knights 12-7. “If Williams doesn’t make those plays, it’s a different game.”
Email John Reid at jreid@dailynewsgroup.com.
Castilleja 003 001 0 — 4 12 1
Menlo School 230 000 X — 5 7 0
Yamamura, Yee (2) and Apffel; McConnell and Medberry. WP-McConnell (n-a). LP-Yamamura (6-4). 2B — Apffel, M. Shore (C); Friedman, McConnell 2 (M). 4 hits — M. Shore (C). 3 hits — Yamamura (C); McConnell (M). 2 hits — Apffel (C); Friedman (M). 3 RBI — McConnell (M). 2 RBI — M. Shore (C).
