Hancock Beats Fullerton to Reach State

It was a sweet homecoming for Hancock softball Coach Margo Davis Saturday afternoon.

Davis, who won the state championship in 1968 and 1980 as head coach at Fullerton, watched her Bulldogs defeat Fullerton, 7-2, in the second game of the Southern California regional playoffs at Fullerton.

The Bulldogs (38-12) advanced to the state championship, which begins Friday at Golden West College. The trip is the first for Davis since she retired in 1989 after 31 years as Hornet head coach. Davis has spent the last four seasons at Hancock.

“This win was real sweet,” Davis said. “We have a good solid team, and to win it here just couldn’t have been nicer.”

It was Davis’ wisdom that might have been the deciding factor. Pitcher Cori Ryan, who threw a complete game in Friday’s 1-0 14-inning victory over Fullerton (37-13), was roughed up early in the first game Saturday. Ryan pitched only three innings, giving up seven hits and five runs in the 5-3 loss.

Davis decided to stay with Ryan in the second game. “You have to stay with your best in these situations,” Davis said.

Ryan was strong in the second game, giving up six hits and two earned runs.

Fullerton Coach Lisa Bassi pulled pitcher Lynette Velazquez in favor of Kristy Bonwell at the start of the fifth inning with the scored tied, 1-1. Velazquez had pitched a complete game Friday and earned the save in the first game with two flawless innings.

In earlier games at Fullerton:

Fullerton 5, Hancock 3--Bonwell had two key RBI singles in Fullerton’s victory that forced a second game with Hancock. Teammates Kelly Wilkerson and Natasha Sisco each had two hits and an RBI for the Hornets.

Fullerton 3, Riverside 0--Bonwell pitched a five-hit shutout for the Hornets in the elimination-game victory. Velazquez had an RBI single in the third inning on what was intended to be an intentional-walk pitch by Riverside’s Mandy Dorow.