If Rich Eaton had his way, he would do his Clinton team’s last game against InTech Academy over. Governors ace Tayna Pena walked nine batters in that nine-run loss and Eaton knows that was not a true indication of how good they truly are.
“Tayna gave us no shot to win,” he said. “Right in front of her I said that. Tayna can handle things like that. When a pitcher walks [nine] batters, no one else needs to show up.”
Pena more than redeemed herself Monday. She put forth a sterling effort in the circle and came up with the game’s biggest hit to lead Clinton to a 5-3 win over previously undefeated InTech in PSAL Bronx A softball at Harris Park.
The hard-throwing senior righthander gave up three runs on six hits and struck out 11 in seven innings. But it was her two-run home run in the top of the sixth with Clinton (7-2) down 3-2 that sealed the victory. It came after Pena gave up a three-run homer to Chayne Dauo that gave InTech (9-1) the lead a half-inning earlier.
“I said, ‘Listen we have 1-2-3 coming up next inning, are you guys gonna hit or what?’” Eaton said he told Pena on his trip to the circle after the homer. “She said yes, and I said don’t worry about it. … She never flinched. She wasn’t even worried. That was such a big part of the game.”
InTech put runners on first and second with two outs in the bottom of the seventh and Xiomara German battled Pena hard, fouling off seven pitches before a short fly ball to center field that a charging Kayla Covin caught for the final out. Eaton said it was one of the most fun innings he’s seen in his coaching life, but victory could be even more important in the big picture.
“I just think it gave our team tremendous confidence,” he said. “We can beat any body. We beat Francis Lewis. My team truly believes we can beat anybody outside of Tottenville.”
Senior third baseman Marigold Yin continued her excellent season, going 2-for-3 with a home run and three runs scored. She walked in front of Pena to setup the go-ahead home run. Eaton said she’s arguably been his best hitter all year.
“Marigold has been the catalyst of this team,” Eaton said. “I didn’t know who it was gonnna be at the beginning of the season.”
Clinton has earned at least a share of the Bronx title six of the last seven years, but Eaton admitted that he wasn’t thinking of that this year after his team fell to Environmental Studies. That possibility is back on the table, though, as is a deep run in the playoffs. The coach said one of the goals is to make the Class A semifinals for the first time.
Right now, though, the Governors will just enjoy this victory with the playoffs still two weeks away.
“I told them that whoever wins that game is gonna decide who’s the best team in The Bronx,” Eaton said. “It doesn’t mean who finishes in first place. That’s just who had the better season.”