RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA — A tight-knit group of seniors united again Wednesday to lead Santa Margarita’s softball team to a historic victory in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinals.
Senior Sawyer Denser pitched a complete game with eight strikeouts, and senior Sofia Zavarella hit a go-ahead solo home run in the fifth inning as the Eagles beat visiting Ganesha 2-1 to reach the semifinals for the first time since 2010.
Santa Margarita won its first and only section title in 2010 in Division 1.
Santa Margarita’s Sofia Zavarella rounds third after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff against Ganesha in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita third baseman Alyssa Grajeda keeps her eye on a high chopper by Ganesha in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) A happy Sofia Zavarella head home after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against Ganesha in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Loreale Blake is able to field a hard grounder by Ganesha in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita second baseman Camryn Legeny turns a double play after forcing Ganesha’s Sophia McCoy in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Ganesha’s Nevaeh Wilson takes third in a careless moment by Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita starting pitcher Sawyer Denser delivers a pitch against Ganesha in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita first baseman Lindsay Hudson takes the throw to get Ganesha’s Nevaeh Wilson in the seventh inning in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Ganesha’s starting pitcher Kalena Lemus delivers a pitch against Santa Margarita in the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Loreale Blake, right, jumps into Sawyer Denser’s arms to celebrate winning the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff against Ganesha in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Loreale Blake, second from left, celebrates with teammates after the Eagles won their CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff against Ganesha in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Loreale Blake, center, celebrates with teammates after the Eagles won their CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff against Ganesha in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Ganesha’s Nevaeh Wilson gets under a fly ball in short left field to make the catch as Lacy VanTuinen, left, moves in during the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Santa Margarita’s Loreale Blake, left, and Lindsay Hudson, right, rush in to celebrate with starting pitcher Sawyer Denser after winning the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff against Ganesha in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 14Santa Margarita’s Sofia Zavarella rounds third after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning during the CIF-SS Division 2 quarterfinal playoff against Ganesha in Rancho Santa Margarita on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer) ExpandSenior shortstop Loreale Blake added three hits, including a two-out, RBI single in the second, for the Eagles (20-8).
Santa Margarita, an at-large entry from the Trinity League, advances to Saturday’s semifinal at Los Alamitos with eight seniors who are committed to colleges. Several of the players have been teammates since their 12-and-under years in the Batbusters’ travel organization.
“That’s why we’re playing so well right now,” Denser said, “because it could be our last game ever together. We want to end on a really good note.”
Zavarella, a left fielder committed to Santa Clara, led off the fifth by launching a 2-0 pitch from New Mexico State commit Kalena Lemus over the fence in left for a 2-1 lead.
Zavarella hit the towering home run, her third, after walking in her first two at-bats.
“I’m a pretty patient hitter,” the leadoff batter said. “(The pitch) looked pretty middle-in. … It was a good pitch to hit. It’s my count, 2-0.”
Denser, who is committed to Loyola Marymount, blanked Ganesha (24-5-1) the final four innings to improve to 13-6.
She allowed five singles and walked one against a program that captured titles in Division 6 and Division 7, respectively, the past two seasons.
“She had a great changeup,” Ganesha coach Tricia Joines said of Denser. “She just came through. I have a lot of young girls playing and I think the nerves got to them, too. … (We) had way too many strikeouts in that game compared to what I’m used to.”
Ganesha sophomore catcher Hollynn Gentry tied the score 1-1 in the third with a one-out sacrifice fly with the bases loaded.
Santa Margarita played without Notre Dame committed center fielder Jillian Torres because of an injury, Eagles coach John FitzPatrick said. The senior had five RBIs in a 13-3 win against Vista Murrieta in the second round.
Blake, a Seton Hall commit, assisted on the final two outs to cap a strong defensive game with BYU-bound third baseman Alyssa Grajeda.
After the final out, Denser leaped in the circle before Blake jumped into her arms.
“We feed off each other’s energy so much,” Zavarella said. “We’ve been friends since the seventh grade (and) all through high school. It’s us to the end.”
Santa Margarita sophomore first baseman Lindsay Hudson singled high off the fence in right center in second. Ganesha junior Sophia McCoy had two hits.
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