July 4, 2024
LOVELAND, Colo. — With help from her friend adrenaline, So Cal Choppers Smith pitcher Payten Nalbandian only got better when greeted by trouble throughout her Wednesday afternoon outing.
The unfazed southpaw successfully navigated two bases-loaded jams and a couple of other messes throughout five shutout innings against OK Athletics Premier 2010 Lampkin, stranding 10 total baserunners. Following the Choppers’ 6-0 win in the Colorado Sparkler Juniors 14u supplemental power pool, head coach Kenny Smith commended Nalbandian’s gutsy performance.
“She did a great job today,” Smith said of his starting pitcher. “She was able to minimize damage when runners did get on base, and she was able to hit spots and make pitches in big spots.”
Nalbandian, who allowed six hits and struck out one at Barnes Softball Complex in Loveland, spoke on how she remained focused when drama arose.
“My mindset is to just lock in and keep everyone in the other team's dugout out of my head,” the class of 2028 pitcher from California’s Moorpark High School said. “(I try) to get in my mindset and feel the pitch that I'm throwing… It’s like a good adrenaline.”
The Choppers closed their first day of the Colorado Sparkler Juniors at 2-0. In their first game, shortstop Cyrah Chavez delivered a walk-off hit to beat Hotshots Premier Nelson, 10-9.
OK Athletics Premier, meanwhile, fell to RogueFC LaMere in their Wednesday opener, 5-0.
After scoring one run in the second inning and another in the third, Choppers second baseman Avalinda Prinn broke things open in the fourth with a bases-clearing triple that scored Sophia Torres, Isis Solis and Madyson Highsmith.
“I knew it was a slow pitcher, so I went in the front of the box,” Prinn said of her approach. “Me and a lot of my teammates were not getting on top of it, so I just hit a line drive.”
Catcher Savannah Miner then followed with an RBI double, giving So Cal its ultimate 6-0 lead.
Prinn also made her presence known in the field. She fielded both ground balls hit her way and made an impressive leaping grab on a third-inning line drive. She commended Nalbandian for giving So Cal’s infielders a low-stress afternoon.
“I knew they weren't gonna get (much hard) contact,” Prinn said. “Anything that's gonna come to me, it's gonna be light and easy.”
Aspen Mahan, Jenna Poage and Elliott Haynes each recorded two singles for the Athletics, who will return to Barnes Softball Complex on Thursday for a Fourth of July doubleheader. They’ll face SFL Intensity KOD/Pascual at 8 a.m. and Hotshots Premier Nelson at noon.
Also at Barnes on Thursday, the Choppers will battle RogueFC LaMere at 8 a.m. and SFL Intensity KOD/Pascual at 10 a.m.
