Norwalk Softball crushes Legacy, 13-1, in non-league action
Norwalk’s Nayeli Sanchez (21) gets a hit against Legacy in their non-league game at Norwalk High School on Monday. Norwalk defeated Legacy 13-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger)
NORWALK – The Norwalk High School Softball team took a break from Suburban Valley Conference action for a non-league game and the offense exploded for a 13-1 win in six innings over visiting Legacy Monday evening (April 10).
The Lancers, who improved to 14-5 overall, won their eighth consecutive game scoring 120 runs in that stretch.
They finish up their last five games against Paramount, Bellflower, Dominguez and two with Lynwood in hopes of a perfect league season. The Lancers are 7-0 as of their last game.
Norwalk, under the direction of second-year coach Fred Perez, was led by all nine starters with at least one hit.
They were led by three players with two hits each – junior shortstop Kendall Nakano (2 for 3, HR, Dbl., BB, 2 Rs, 2 RBIs), senior third baseman Cerise Cervantes (2 for 4, Dbl., 2 Rs, RBI) and junior pitcher Jalynn Banda (2 for 3, 2 Dbls., RBI, Rs).
“Hitting is definitely a big part of our game,” said Nakano, who has multiple offers but hasn’t committed yet to college. “Once a person starts hitting, it’s definitely contagious. Hitting is and especially energy is contagious. We’re also a very high-drive team.”
Banda also pitched a six-inning, three hitter and 11 strikeouts and allowed only three base runners and retired the last nine batters to end the shortened game.
“The quality pitching was good (Monday) for us and them to come up and work those counts,” Perez said. “One through nine in the lineup can hit and we have girls on the bench when we call their number they come out and do their best to produce.”
Perez, who became head coach after the passing of former coach Vic Juan last year, said of Banda, “Banda mixes up her pitches really well and Leilani (Juan) calls a good game.”
Banda has one no-hitter this year.
“I’ve played with Leilani (Juan) since I started playing when I was six years old when I started playing softball,” said Banda, of her catcher. Pitching and catching together is one of the greatest things because I have the best connection with her.
“Once I got into high school, I made sure my speed was up and then I could use my movement.”
In addition to Banda, Nakano is also successful in the circle with a no-hitter and a perfect game to her credit.
Another factor in run production was six errors by Legacy (10-7), leading to multiple runs.
Norwalk opened the game with two runs in the first inning on the first two errors by Legacy for a 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, the Lancers extended their lead to 5-0 over the Tigers.
Sophomore catcher Jezrael Acosta opened the inning with a single to center and scored on a double by Cervantes, to lead 3-0. Banda changed places with Cervantes with another double for the 4-0 lead.
Banda came home with the fifth run of the game on a sacrifice fly by junior first baseman Itzel Hernandez (R, 2 RBIs).
Meanwhile, Banda, who allowed a single in the first inning, retired the next seven batters through the fourth inning before an error led to their only run of the game for the 5-1 lead.
Nakano opened the fifth inning with a solid solo home run shot to left-center to extend the lead to 6-1. Cervantes and Banda followed Nakano’s home run with a single and double, respectively, but did not score.
My goal is to get on base and get a solid hit,” Nakano said. “I don’t really look for home runs, I just try to put the ball in play.”
Nakano has 10 home runs this season.
After Nakano retired all three batters in the sixth inning, two of which by strikeout, the Lancer offense went to work with a seven-run sixth to end the game.
Freshman center fielder Nayeli Sanchez opened the inning with an infield hit, stole second and eventually came home on an RBI single by Juan with the seventh run of the game.
Nakano, followed with an RBI double and two more runs came in on consecutive RBI singles by Hernandez and senior left fielder Kasarey Lotts for the 10-0 lead.
Three more runs in the inning led to the game being called.
What they said:
Leilani Juan, senior catcher: “We all seem to be very aggressive at the plate. We want to be the ones to strike first. We are all swingers, and we want to hit. This was an extra feel-good game.
Banda was shutout lights, for sure. She gets ahead of the count always and she knows I have her back.”
Cerise Cervantes, senior third baseman: “(Monday) was a pretty important game for us, especially because our league games haven’t been against strong teams.
Honestly, we’re glad we have someone like her (Banda) on the mound for us. I know she is going to go out there and throw a great game like she did (Monday).
She knows she has a solid defense behind her.”
Kendall Nakano on coach Vic: “Vic’s passing was very emotional for us and very sad times, but I think that just drove us to work harder and it hit home for a lot of girls, because we grew up with him coaching. We just wanted to do it for him.”
Coach Fred Perez on coach Vic: “Vic had a huge impact on the girls and myself and coach Keith (Nakano) just wanted to carry the vision that (Vic) had. His vision was to make sure to create a culture here to make sure everybody feels welcome, to give them some place to play.
One of Vic’s last texts to me said, ‘take care of my girls.”
Editor’s note: Coach Vic died just prior to the 2022 season and Perez became the coach to carry on his legacy.
Keith Nakano, Norwalk assistant coach: “Last year we went 20-8 and it was the first year in the playoffs in six years and we made it to the quarterfinals. Coach Fred and I try to continue coach Vic’s legacy and his vision.”