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CIF-SS SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
(All games at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine)
FRIDAY, MAY 30
DIVISION 6
UNIVERSITY (15-10) VS. RIO HONDO PREP* (20-5), 10 a.m.
Outlook: University continues its improbable postseason run by making its first appearance in a section final. The Trojans finished 0-11 two years ago but have progressed under second-year coach Merissa Guzman. University, the fifth-place team from the Pacific Coast League, doesn’t feature any seniors. The squad earned Division 6’s top at-large berth on the strength of its power rating (6.531) and fulfilling the .500 record requirement.
The Trojans were ranked ninth among CIF eligible teams in the division. They are led by junior Carson Cruz. The left-handed pitcher is 4-0 in the postseason with a 2.08 ERA. She has 24 strikeouts and 10 walks in 26 innings. Cruz, who also bats left-handed, is hitting .576 overall with a team-high 50 RBIs. She joins sophomore center fielder Sophia Weinberg (.605) and junior shortstop Amela Hoang (.500) as University players hitting at least .500.
No. 2 ranked Rio Hondo Prep is averaging 14.5 runs in the playoffs and allowing 8.5 runs. University is averaging 12 runs in the postseason while allowing 2.5 runs.
DIVISION 4
MARINA (18-13) VS. WESTLAKE* (19-13), 4 p.m.
Outlook: Marina, ranked fourth in the division, rides the arm of ace Mia Valbuena (18-10, 1.91 ERA) into its first section final since 1995. Valbuena, a junior committed to Michigan, has allowed one run in four postseason starts. She has struck out 43 and walked seven in 26 innings in the playoffs. The right-hander leads the Southern Section with 280 strikeouts.
Marina’s lineup features only two seniors in leadoff batter Liz Byer (.340) and Rachel Ruiz (.329). In a 3-1 win against St. Paul in the quarterfinals, Ruiz hit key two-run home run. Marina’s offense showed its versatility in a 4-0 victory against Yorba Linda in the semifinals. The Vikings only struck out once, executed five sacrifice bunts and received a home run from sophomore Ava Kim.
Catcher Gabriella DiBenedetto leads Marina with a .438 batting average. Valbuena is hitting .337 and could bat cleanup.
Marina’s Dan Hay and Shelly Luth share the coach duties. Luth guided the Vikings to section titles in 1994 and 1995. Olympic gold medalist Amanda Freed (Pacifica/UCLA) serves as an assistant coach.
Westlake, an at-large entry to the playoffs, ranked 15th among playoff eligible teams in Division 3. The Warriors defeated Mission Viejo (4-0) and Kennedy (7-4 in eight innings) in the quarterfinals and semifinals, respectively.
DIVISION 2
LOS ALAMITOS (20-12) VS. JSERRA* (19-13), 7 p.m.
Outlook: It’s an intriguing clash between teams with similarities and differences.
Both squads challenged themselves against tough competition in hopes of seeing improvement later in the season. The Griffins overcame a 1-7 start to capture a share of the Sunset League title. The Lions dropped five consecutive games in March and started 1-4 in the Trinity League before earning an at-large berth in the playoffs.
JSerra and Los Alamitos entered the postseason ranked fifth and seventh, respectively, in Division 2.
Both teams feature several young players. JSerra could start four freshmen while the Griffins could start two, including pitcher Jaliane Brooks.
The teams’ strength appear to differ. JSerra is led by the pitching duo of Liliana Escobar (14-4, 1.13 ERA) and Abby Ford (5-9, 2.22 ERA). Escobar has produced a breakout campaign with 223 strikeouts in 130 innings. The junior threw a two-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 4-0 win against Los Alamitos at the Michelle Carew Classic in early April.
Los Alamitos counters with Brooks (11-7, 2.83 ERA), who has shown improvement and poise. If she keeps her pitches down in the zone and forces groundouts, that feeds into a strong defensive unit. Shortstop Kalie Matsuno is a Florida commit who helps anchor the infield.
The Griffins’ strength appears to be their offense. They’re averaging 7.5 runs in the playoffs with a deep lineup. Left-handed seniors Layni Kimura (.426) and Cienna Kowaleski (.387) lead the team in batting average. Kowaleski and sophomore Erin Denny share the team-lead in home runs with seven while Denny leads with 27 RBIs.
Offense has been a struggle for JSerra but the Lions have picked up the pace in the postseason by averaging 6.5 runs. Freshman catcher Annabel Raftery leads the squad with a .374 average and five home runs. The left-hander is 7 for 12 in her past three games with four RBIs, two doubles, a triple and a walk-off home run in the ninth inning.
SATURDAY, MAY 31
DIVISION 1
NORCO (28-3) VS. EL MODENA* (22-8), 7 p.m.
Outlook: The finalists from the early-season Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Ariz. collide again for the most prestigious prize of the section playoffs.
El Modena edged Norco 5-4 in Bullhead City to claim the tournament for the first time.
The Vanguards’ senior standouts played a major role in the victory. Ace Sara Pinedo earned the save while leadoff batter Kaitlyn Galasso went 4 for 4. Sophomore first baseman Lucy Mitchell also went 4 for 4.
Pinedo, who signed with Loyola Marymount, is 17-4 with a 1.98 ERA. She has a 152 strikeouts in 137 2/3 innings. Galasso, who signed with Boise State, leads the offense in average (.484), home runs (12) and RBIs (31).
The Vanguards feature three other players hitting at least .300. They are Mitchell (.317), shortstop Kylie Tafua (.310) and catcher Parker Mayes (.312). Tafua and Mayes have been especially hot in the playoffs.
El Modena, which earned a share of the Crestview League title, entered the playoffs ranked 11th in the division. The squad has defeated two-time defending Division 1 champion Pacifica, former O.C. No. 1 Rosary, hot-hitting Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and Temescal Canyon.
Top-ranked Norco features strong pitchers in Coral Williams (16-0, 0.88 ERA) and former Orange Lutheran right-hander Peyton May (12-2, 1.84 ERA). May is committed to Oklahoma State while Williams is a sophomore.
Norco has hit 38 home runs, 10 more than El Modena.
El Modena coach Bobby Calderon said the keys for his squad are to “throw strikes, take care of the softball and be ready to hit.”
“(Norco is) a talented team and we have to minimize their opportunities and capitalize on the ones in front of us,” the coach added.
El Modena is seeking its first title since 2008 in Division 2 under the late coach Steve Harrington.
* indicates home team
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