Dons begin CCS chase with win

The host Dons (3-1 overall, 1-0) looked like they were in peak form on Thursday in a 3-1 win over Terra Nova in the Peninsula Athletic League Bay Division opener for both teams. Aragon ace and workhorse Nina Campos tossed a complete-game, five-hitter with 10 strikeouts and no walks. Out of Campos' 77 pitches, 53 were for strikes. Relying on pinpoint placement and movement, Campos allowed just a fourth-inning home run in an otherwise spectacular performance.

"I think she pitched in every single game last year, and as a freshman (on the frosh-soph team) she pitched every inning," Dimatteo said. "She puts the ball over the plate and is very reliable. She has the heart to go out there every time and her durability is something you need in this league."

Campos would get all the offense she would need in the bottom of the third inning. Tara Franchi led off with a single and Molly Allen followed with a bunt single. Two batters later, Monica Dimatteo advanced both runners on a groundout before Taylor Lynn drilled a two-run single to center field. Kris Griggi got Terra Nova on the board with a home run in the top of the fourth, but the Dons answered in the bottom half on Franchi's RBI single, scoring courtesy runner Justine McManus. Catcher Rachel Reed led off the inning with a single.

Aragon lost only two starters from a team that finished in fifth-place with a 7-7 record in the Bay Division last season. Dave Dimatteo's confidence comes from watching a squad that possesses all the tools to make the playoffs: pitching, hitting, defense, speed and fundamentals. The Dons were brutally effective Thursday in using the bunt as a weapon. They produced three bunt singles and put down a number of key sacrifices.

"We actually haven't worked on bunting much at all because of the rain," Dimatteo said. "But we had problems with that earlier in the year and knew it was something we had to improve on. These girls have what it takes to win. Most importantly, they really want to make it to CCS."

Aragon next plays in the Burlingame tournament on Monday at 12:45 p.m. against Mercy-Burlingame. Dimatteo said Kelly Potter will get the start. One thing is for certain: high school softball games often come down to defense — outside of pitching, it's the most important aspect of the game — and the Dons seem to have the athletes to get the job done starting with Lynn at shortstop, Amanda Ryder at second, Franchi at first, Allen at third, Reed behind the plate, Taylor Louie in left field, Dimatteo in center and Ashley Dillon in right. Reed gunned down a Tigers' baserunner in the second to help Aragon escape from a second-inning jam.