Reigning Gatorade Player of the Year Sydney Somerndike dominates as Villa Park defeats Esperanza 2-0

Somerndike threw a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts and also hit 2-2.

VILLA PARK– How good is Sydney Somerndike at softball? The reigning Gatorade State Player of the Year might still be the best player in California even when at less than full strength.

Still working her way back from an ankle sprain with a brace on one foot, the Arizona commit pitched a complete game one-hitter and went 2-2 at the plate to lead the Spartans to a key 2-0 Crestview League win over Esperanza.

Somerndike not only kept the Aztecs off the board with her pitching, striking out 12, but was in part responsible for both of Villa Park's runs as well. 

After Somerndike's first single in the bottom of the third inning, courtesy runner Jordyn Lawhon stole second and later came in to score on a single. After Somerndike hit another single in the fifth, Lawhon came in to run for her again, stole again, made it to third on an errant throw to second, and scored on a single by Brianne Kang.

Villa Park's defense was on point as well, highlighted by a pair of very similar running catches in left field by Riley Sandvig in the sixth and seven innings. It was an all-around clean game at a crucial time for VP, which dropped league games to both Esperanza and Canyon (Anaheim) when Somerndike was out, and now moves to 2-2 in league play. While it wasn't their most explosive offensive effort, scoring two runs against dominant Esperanza ace and UC Riverside commit Brooke Perez is still a solid showing.

Before Somerndike's injury on March 31, the Spartans were 16-0, ranked No. 1 in the state and top-five in the country. Regardless of where they finish in league play, they are still quite arguably the number one team to beat in the state come playoff time as they return to full health.

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