Arvada – Off to an 0-2 start in the 5A Jefferson County League, the loser of three straight games and facing the state’s third-ranked team, Lakewood hardly needed added incentive for Thursday’s matchup against Pomona.
But Pomona coach Jim Biddle may have unwittingly provided it during a pregame talk with his team. Two Tigers players said a teammate overheard Biddle reportedly tell his team the upcoming contest was the equivalent of a practice game.
“It was like, ‘Guys let’s not take that.’ That’s ridiculous that he would even say that,” Lakewood’s Tawny Dennis said. “So we went out there and we took it to them.”
Dennis did most of the damage in Lakewood’s 1-0 victory, knocking the Panthers (9-3, 2-1) out of a three-way tie for first place in the Jeffco. The senior right-hander outpitched Pomona ace Jenn Brock, firing a one-hitter with six strikeouts, and went 3-for-3, her single with one out in the second inning setting the stage for the game’s only run.
“That was a huge win,” Dennis said. “You never want to go 0-3, especially in the Jeffco.”
Biddle credited Lakewood (6-4, 1-2), saying the Tigers “outplayed us and deserved to win.” He said Dennis “moved the ball in and out, and kept us off balance. Everything we hit was off the end of the bat or jammed.”
But, he added, “For no reason at all we came out flat. … A good team always plays desperate, and we did not play with any sense of urgency at all.”
Brock (7-3) allowed five hits, striking out 10.
Lakewood 010 000 0 – 1 5 2
Pomona 000 000 0 – 0 1 0
Lakewood – Naranto ss 3-0-0-0, Clark dp 3-0-0-0, Nefford cf 3-0-0-0, Lyles c 3-0-1-0, Yacovetta pr 0-0-0-0, Dennis p 3-0-3-0, Lowry pr 0-1-0-0, Calaway 3b 3-0-0-0, Kira Brester lf 2-0-0-0, Hosier rf 3-0-1-1, Tricarico 1b 3-0-0-0, Kali Brester 2b 0-0-0-0. Totals – 26-1-5-1.
Pomona – Hamilton ss 3-0-0-0, Williams lf 3-0-0-0, Booco 3b 3-0-1-0, Brock p 3-0-0-0, Winters c 2-0-0-0, C. Martinez pr 0-0-0-0, Hunnel rf 3-0-0-0, K. Martinez 2b 3-0-0-0, Kehm dp 2-0-0-0, Osiecki cf 0-0-0-0. Totals – 24-0-1-0.
E – Tricarico, Kali Brester. LOB – Lakewood 5, Pomona 4.
Batteries – Dennis and Lyles; Brock and Winters. W – Dennis (4-1). L – Brock (7-3). HBP – Kira Brester (by Brock).
2B – Booco. SB – Hunnel. Time – 1:45.
