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Homestead's offense seemed be full of high-octane at the outset of its Central Coast Section Division II softball playoff opener, but a Los Gatos freshman took the ping out of the Mustangs' bats and helped end Homestead's season.
Although Los Gatos jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning at Redwood City's Hawes Field, the Mustangs were not discouraged. They scored two runs on three hits in the bottom of the first, and quickly strung together four hits and a well-placed bunt to tie the game in the second. And, with just one out, the bases were still loaded.
But Homestead's bats went quiet—17 up, 17 down ... lights out, party's over—thanks to freshman Lindsay Zullo.
After a strikeout and groundout allowed Los Gatos to survive the second at 4-4, the Wildcats made a perfect decision in the third. Los Gatos coach Marlo Cortese brought in Zullo to pitch.
From the third through the seventh, Zullo didn't allow a baserunner, retiring all 15 Mustangs she faced—10 by strikeout.
After the first inning, Homestead sophomore Melanie Gularte's pitching was almost as impressive. She held Los Gatos scoreless from the second through the fifth.
Los Gatos picked up the decisive runs in the sixth. After a walk and a single by Kyrie Timbrook, Amy Hendrickson and Emily Augustine rapped run-scoring singles.
The Wildcats, who advanced to a quarterfinal game only to lose 8-0 to Leigh, gained its 4-0 lead on two-run singles by Camille Cardinale and Liz Rose.
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