Salas’ Play on Defense Helps La Habra Hold Off Sonora

La Habra shortstop Shelley Salas’ best defensive game of the season gave her team a crucial 2-1 Freeway League victory Tuesday over Sonora, the likely challenger for the league title.

La Habra improved to 14-6, 3-0 in league as Salas made four terrific plays in the hole between shortstop and third base. Sonora dropped to 17-7, 2-1.

“I practiced [my backhand] a lot,” said Salas, a .418 hitter. “That’s my weakness--but I was able to master it this game. . . . I’m glad I rose to the occasion.

“I was nervous. I knew one single error, one play, could cost us the game. There was no margin for error. This is the cross-town rival, we’re at home, it’s [against] Sonora for first place. This game meant a lot.”

Among Salas’ four fielding gems was a play on Jennifer Brown, which preceded Erika Lewis’ fourth-inning double that would have tied the score 1-1. Brown’s run-scoring single in the sixth inning did eventually tie the score.

Another critical play came in the seventh. After a leadoff walk, Salas went to her right, backhanded the ball and rifled a throw to second base for the forceout. Had she not made the play, Sonora may have had runners at first and second with none out.

“There are a lot of players who don’t make that play [in the hole],” Sonora Coach John Link said. “That’s four or five baserunners.”

Instead, two fly balls ended the inning, which set the stage for La Habra’s winning two-out rally.

Elaine Elsesser, whose sacrifice fly scored winning pitcher Christina Gibbons (who tripled) in the second inning, and Lynette Ferra had infield singles off losing pitcher Georgeanne Wisen (8-4), who gave up three hits.

Then Kaysie Thompson hit a grounder to the hole and the ball skipped under shortstop Jennifer Link’s glove for an error. Elsesser kept running and scored under the high throw to the plate for the winning run.