Brianah Alejandre #9 of Los Altos reacts as she scores on a RBI single by teammate Isabella Falomir (not pictured) of Los Altos against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
WEST COVINA – The Los Altos softball team sent nine batters to the plate and scored four unearned runs in the sixth inning to come from behind and beat South Hills 5-3 in a Hacienda League game Thursday.
The win snapped the the Huskies’ 27-game league winning streak and moved the Conquerors into sole possession of first place.
Head coach Lydell McCullough of Los Altos talks to his team against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Scarlet Soto #15 of South Hills hits a RBI double against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Giselle Mejia #4 of Los Altos throws to the plate against South Hills in the second inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Parker Milton #19 throws o the plate against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joie Economides #35 of South Hills scores on a RBI double by teammate Scarlet Soto (not pictured) of South Hills against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Shortstop Brianah Alejandre #9 of Los Altos against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Giselle Mejia #4 of Los Altos throws to the plate against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Brianah Alejandre #9 of Los Altos reacts as she scores on a RBI single by teammate Isabella Falomir (not pictured) of Los Altos against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Parker Milton #19 throws o the plate against Los Altos in the second inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joie Economides #35 of South Hills reacts after scoring on a RBI double by teammate Scarlet Soto (not pictured) of South Hills against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Giselle Mejia #4 of Los Altos throws to the plate against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Parker Milton #19 throws o the plate against Los Altos in the second inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Brianah Alejandre #9 of Los Altos reacts as she scores on a RBI single by teammate Isabella Falomir (not pictured) of Los Altos against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Giselle Mejia #4 of Los Altos throws to the plate against South Hills in the second inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Mikayla Sta Ana #18 of South Hills scores on a RBI double by teammate Scarlet Soto (not pictured) of South Hills against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joie Economides #35 of South Hills scores on a RBI double by teammate Scarlet Soto (not pictured) of South Hills against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Faith Hernandez #12 of South Hills safe at first on a late throw to first baseman Angel Aguilar #32 of Los Altos in the second inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Parker Milton #19 throws o the plate against Los Altos in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Head coach Lydell McCullough of Los Altos looks on against South Hills in the first inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Joie Economides #35 of South Hills hits against Los Altos in the second inning of a girls prep softball game at South Hills High School in West Covina on Thursday, March 14, 2024. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
The Conquerors (8-4-1, 2-0) had been the last team to beat the Huskies in a league game in May of 2021.
South Hills (7-4,1-1) is the two-time defending Hacienda League champion.
Giselle Mejia was the winning pitcher and she had the hit that gave Los Altos the lead in the sixth-inning rally. She smashed a two-out double to drive in pinch-runner Esme Soto and shortstop Brianah Allejandre to cap the comeback.
Allejandre’s single drove in two runs and tied the score.
“The bottom of our lineup did a great job today,” Conquerors coach Lydell McCullough said. “They (South Hills) had a couple of miscues then we put some pressure on them and got our big guns up.”
Mejia, who will play at UC Santa Barbara next year, was a little shaky to start the game as the Huskies scored three runs in the bottom of the first.
Mejia hit the leadoff batter and then gave up her only two walks of the game. All three of those runners scored but Mejia settled down after that.
“My first inning was a little shaky,” Mejia said. “I knew they would come out swinging but I settled down and got into my rhythm.”
After giving up an unearned run in the top of the first the Huskies came right back.
Leadoff hitter Faith Hernandez was hit by a pitch and Mikayla Sta Ana and Joie Economides drew back-to-back walks to load the bases.
Scarlet Soto’s single drove in two runs and Economides scored the third run on an error by Los Altos.
With the Huskies leading 3-1 in the fifth inning, Mejia got a huge defensive play behind her to keep the game within reach.
South Hills’ Kayla Sigala ripped a ball to the outfield wall. The relay throw went from right fielder Alyssa Pallan to Esme Soto, who fired a rocket to third baseman Aaliyah Aranda who tagged out the runner.
“We were trying to be aggressive,” South Hills coach Ralph Navarro said. “It had to be a perfect throw and they got her. Offensively we could have done a little more but that one inning got us. We have to play them again at their place and we’ll be OK.”
Huskies sophomore pitcher Parker Milton scattered eight hits and struck out three.
The Huskies had three errors, including one in the first inning that led to the Conquerors’ first run.
Alejandre, who has committed to UCLA, reached base on an error and stole second. Mejia walked and Isabella Falomir singled to drive in the run.
