Capuchino scratches out win over Aragon

On May 4, the Mustangs suffered a 7-0 loss to league champ Carlmont. Since then, Capuchino has reeled off three straight wins, including a 1-0 decision over Aragon on Thursday.

"We had to beat Half Moon Bay, we had to beat Burlingame and we had to beat Aragon," said Capuchino coach Marty Jenkins. "That's the way we felt."

Not only have the games been big, but the way they've been played have felt like playoff games. On Tuesday, Capuchino scored a run in the top of the seventh to beat Burlingame. On Thursday, the Mustangs scored a single run on an error in the second to account for the game's only score.

"Most of the games of this caliber, a mistake will win the game," Jenkins said. "You need your pitcher to throw a good game and your defense to play solid to win games."

Both Capuchino (10-4 Bay Division, 17-9 overall) and Aragon (5-9) got stellar pitching performances. The Mustangs' Roxanne Hannan and the Dons' Nina Campos matched zeroes for most of the game. Hannan retired the first nine batters in order before having a hiccup in the fourth. She gave up a solid single to Amanda Ryder, a fielder's choice to Diana DiMatteo and walked Rachel Reed. But Hannan made a stumbling, over-the-head catch of Jessica Scott's popup to retire the side.

Hannan didn't allow another base runner over the next two innings and Danielle Jones pitched a flawless seventh to lock down the win.

"I was confident in my defense today," Hannan said. "It was nice to get one run early. I felt pretty good out there."

Added Jenkins: "She was hitting her spots today."

Campos was equally effective. She held Capuchino's potent attack to just four hits - all singles. She gave up single hits in the first and second and the fifth and sixth.

"I expected us to hit a little better," Jenkins said. "We hit the ball hard, just at people."

Campos said she was a little more focused for the game, as it was essentially Aragon's playoff game. The Dons did not qualify for CCS.

"All the games we've played have been real close," Campos said. "I didn't want to do poorly."

A single Aragon mistake cost the Dons the win. With one out in the bottom of the second, Monica Romero, a senior playing in her last home game, singled to center. She moved to second on Kim Welch's sacrifice bunt. The inning appeared over when Laura Lehy hit a routine grounder to shortstop DiMatteo, who threw over to first. The ball glanced off Scott's glove and trickled into foul territory, enabling Romero to score from second.

Campos believed that one run might be the difference, but she didn't dwell on it.

"I tend not to think about (the score)," Campos said. "I just focus on the batter. I know if they hit it, my defense will make plays. And if they don't, it's OK."

Despite the loss, Aragon coach Dave DiMatteo was pleased with the way his team played.

"We played a good game," DiMatteo said. "I told them that since this game didn't mean that much, they're on their own. I wasn't going to say too much.

"[Capuchino] is going to be one of the top teams next year. We're going to be a top team next year and we hung with them."