By Hugo Traverso (2026)
Nicole DiMarco slides home with the first run
Callie Howard added another complete game to her already incredible Cardinal Newman career resume as the Cardinals knocked off Montgomery 6-1. Howard fanned 5 batters and showed her clutch ability to get out of jams. Howard also showed her defensive skills, fielding her position well throughout the game and making some great plays to get some critical outs. At the plate, Howard went 1 for 3 with a double and 2 RBI.
The Cardinals had an incredible 1st inning run where they batted around and scored 5 runs to put Monty deep in a hole to start the game. Nicole DiMarco led off with a walk, Izzie Kunimune smacked a double to put runners in scoring position, DiMarco then scored on a passed ball that moved Kunimune to third and then Andrea Mansbery walked. Ava Walters grounded out to second, but knocked in a run to make it 2-0. Makenna Homan and Giana Tamayo walked to load the bases. Sloane Burke was then hit by a pitch which brought home Mansbery to make it 3-0. Finally, to top the inning off, Callie Howard went the opposite way for a double to left that brought home two runs and made it 5-0.
Montgomery tried to rally back, but Howard's pitching was too good and she escaped a bases loaded jam in the 2nd.
Montgomery kept Sydney Millea in after that tough first inning and she fared well for the rest of the game, holding Newman scoreless until the 5th inning when Giana Tamayo grounded into a double play, but it brought home Ava Walters who had doubled to lead off the inning.
Millea continued through the rest of the game, pitching 6 total innings, walking 3, giving up 7 hits and striking out 3.
On the offensive side, Monty got on base early as Howard had some control issues, but the Vikings weren't able to do much as Howard continued to recover and end innings without giving up a run… until the 4th. Millea led off with a single, Elise Mitchell hit a single, Maylia Day bunted to move the runners over and finally, Lily Lorenz grounded out to second but brought Millea home. That was the only run the Vikings were able to salvage.
Millea went over 100 pitches for the game and if it hadn't been for an erratic first inning, the game would've been a pure rubber match.
With this win over Monty, Newman avenged their 5-3 loss to the Vikings in the Rancho Tournament Championship and secured their 2nd league win of the year. Newman won't see the Vikings again until April 30th when they will play at Montgomery at 4:30 PM. Newman will face Maria Carrillo Tuesday at Carrillo at 4:30 PM.
