Bison advance to softball semifinals with 20-1 victory

By Paige Mendez, Correspondent

The Liberty High School softball team advanced to the semifinals of the CIF-SS Division 5 playoffs with a 20-1 victory at Grace Brethren High Thursday afternoon.

After two runs early in the first inning, followed by a skilled double play that included a throwout at home from left fielder Emma Campos, head coach Nichole Smith said her team was feeding off of pure momentum.

Said momentum led to four runs in the second, followed by eight runs in the third and six in the fourth, meaning the mercy rule was enacted and the fifth inning ended after Grace’s at-bats.

Liberty’s offensive performance was highlighted by that of Kaylee Fraund, who hit for her first career cycle. She was the second at-bat of the game and started with a triple to right field, then her double came in the second to left field, while her home run came in the third to center field and her single was her finale in the fourth.

“It was such an amazing feeling to do, especially during a CIF game,” said Fraund. “Just [getting] to make an accomplishment—and my first ever was amazing— but also just to be helping my team get the win.”

Smith said Fraund set the tone but that the offense was explosive all around, including two others hitting doubles in the game and one other home run from Trinity Barnes.

“Our bats were on fire today,” said Smith. “All around, 1-19, we were solid at the plate. Everybody got an opportunity to produce and everybody got the job done. I love when I am able to use my bench and they can come in and produce just as much as the girls who start.”

Fourteen of the 17 batters for Liberty got on base or had an RBI in the outing.

The third inning brought the only Lancer run via a home run over the center field fence, although they had tallied three hits at that point. Bison pitcher Janessa Giugliano pitched the complete five innings and recorded seven strikeouts, while allowing four hits total and just one walk that came in the second.

“Having Janessa on the mound, giving the performance that she did, is always a plus,” said Smith of her pitcher. “That kid is a workhorse and I love her competitiveness. She’s locked in right now and is such a huge asset to this team and it’s very fun watching her compete every time she steps on the mound.”

Giugliano said the nerves of a playoff game -- and one that is over two hours away by bus -- may have gotten to her, if it weren’t for the energy her teammates carried.

“Today was definitely a long day for all of us driving so far, but I’m so proud of the energy that came out,” she said. “Honestly, [I just] feed off everyone else’s energy and once I get off that bus I know it’s game time and I have to change my mindset.”

That mindset had her throwing over 60 percent strikes against Grace Brethren, facing an average of less than four batters each inning.

It’s also a mindset she and her team hope to keep as they look ahead to their semifinal matchup on Saturday at Quartz Hill.