CVFH opens the double-elimination tournament against the Section 9 champions at 6 p.m. at Kent D. Mace Field in Westchester. CVFH will need to win a minimum of four games for the Division III title and a trip to Tucson, Ariz. and the Western Regional Tournament.
While CVFH Coach Will Thayer was far from pleased during and just after Tuesday's game, he thinks the experience may pay off in the future.
"I think we got some bugs out of our system," Thayer said. "Hopefully there won't be repeat. I think it's a good thing we had a little bump in the road there."
Adela Alatraca, who has been the go-to pitcher out of the bullpen for CVFH, said the game was a valuable lesson that proved there's no need to push the panic button if the team is trailing.
"I think that last game really helped us because it challenged us to fight through the game and it got our confidence up," Alatraca said. "It showed we can be down and come back."
Obviously, CVFH prefers to be in control from the very beginning, something it's shown by scoring at least one run in the first inning of all three Section 2 tournament games.
"The way I like to approach the game is to put pressure the other team, the defense right away, that's my style of play," Thayer said. "I like to attack them early and get them on their heels, especially when I'm the visitor. I can't see not getting a run in the first inning or two, that's almost a given for us, I would say."
CVFH's top of the batting order can be credited for the fast starts with two slap hitters with great speed in No. 1 and 2 hitters Sammy Fabian and Cailey Ellingford, Thayer said.
Pitching has been another strong point for CVFH with four solid pitchers — Alatraca, Jordan Lousararian, Alex Howard and Brenda Gamez — at Thayer's disposal.
