Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
El Modena’s Sara Pinedo (24) pitches against Norco in the first inning against Norco during a CIF-SS Division 1 Championship game, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) El Modena’s Pitcher Ashley Driskill (95) throws to first for an out in the 7th inning against Norco May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) The Norco High Softball team celebrate on the field after defeating El Modena 3-0, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) The Norco High Softball team take a team selfie as the celebrate their CIF-SS Division 1 Championship game after defeating El Modena 3-0, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) The Norco High Softball team celebrate their CIF-SS Division 1 Championship game after defeating El Modena 3-0, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Norco’s Sadie Burroughs (22) celebrates after hitting a double in the 5th inning against El Modena May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. Burroughs would, a few minutes later, score the first run of the game. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Norco’s Sadie Burroughs (22) celebrates after scoring the first run of the game against El Modena in the 5th inning May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Norco’s Savannah Gonzalez (00) scores in the 5th inning as she runs past Parker Mayes (50) of El Modena in the 5th inning May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) The Norco High Softball team celebrate on the field after defeating El Modena 3-0, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) El Modena’s Kaitlyn Galasso (56) of 2nd base catches an infield pop fly for an out against Norco in the 5th inning, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Norco’s Coral Williams (9) pitches against El Modena during a CIF-SS Division 1 Championship game, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Norco’s Sadie Burroughs (22) celebrates after hitting a double in the 5th inning against El Modena May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. Burroughs would, a few minutes later, score the first run of the game. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Norco’s Sadie Burroughs (22) scores the first run of the game as she slides past Parker Mayes (50) of El Modena in the 5th inning May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) Show Caption1 of 13El Modena’s Sara Pinedo (24) pitches against Norco in the first inning against Norco during a CIF-SS Division 1 Championship game, May 31, 2025 at Bill Barber Park in Irvine. (Photo by Steven Georges, Contributing Photographer) ExpandIRVINE — El Modena’s softball team walked up the stairs that led to Deanna Manning Stadium strengthened by their ability to overcome adversity on and off the field.
The Vanguards arrived at Saturday’s CIF-SS Division 1 final after uniting to support shortstop Kylie Tafua, whose mother died from lung cancer. The player combined their talents and adjusted after center fielder Jocelyn Alatorre suffered a dislocated knee in a collision early in the season.
In crossing those hurdles together, El Modena entered a showdown against No. 1-ranked Norco as a tight-knit and strong-willed sisterhood.
“It took a long way to get here — blood, sweat and tears literally,” Tafua said. “The girls here, it’s really something special. … Our support system is amazing.”
Still, the Vanguards wanted more, but Coral Williams had other ideas.
The sophomore pitcher fired a one-hitter with nine strikeouts as Norco beat El Modena 3-0 before a packed crowd for its seventh section championship.
Norco (29-3), which fell to El Modena in the finals of the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in early March, scored three runs on four hits in the fourth inning to support Williams (17-0).
The Cougars strung together three hits during one stretch. No. 7 batter Savannah Gonzalez had a sharp RBI single that narrowly escaped Tafua. Sophomore Dillyn Eckenrod drove an RBI double that just cleared left fielder Jillian Alvarado for another run.
A bad-hop single made it 3-0, a lead that certainly felt larger with Williams in the circle.
Tafua, who plays travel softball with Williams with Athletics Mercado, broke up the no-hitter with a thumping single to right with two outs in the sixth.
In the seventh, El Modena catcher Parker Mayes belted another ball but Norco second baseman Sasha Pham snagged it for the first out.
“We were just unfortunate (that) we ran into a buzz saw,” El Modena coach Bobby Calderon said of Williams, who entered the final with a 0.68 ERA. “She was throwing her dropball really well tonight. We just couldn’t lay off that early. … She did her thing. She pitched a heck of a game.”
Williams felt comfortable on the same field where she claimed a PGF national title last summer.
“I went in there with so much confidence because I knew that my whole community, my team had my back,” said Williams, who pitched in relief against El Modena (22-9) in the Tournament of Champions. “(These are) the games I love pitching in.”
Calderon praised ace Sara Pinedo for keeping El Modena close with five solid innings. The Loyola Marymount-bound senior forced 10 outs by either fly out or pop up before yielding to junior Ashley Driskill.
El Modena’s defense produced a caught stealing in the first innings from Mayes and a diving catch by Alvarado in the third.
The Vanguards, who reached their first section final since 2008, also welcomed Alatorre back to the starting lineup for the first time since late February.
“We just fought our hardest and came this far,” said Pinedo, whose squad will play next week in the CIF Southern California Regional playoffs. “(We’re feeling) anger because we’ve worked so hard … (but) I’m just super proud.”
Related Articles
Los Alamitos softball wins CIF-SS title by topping JSerra in 10-inning thriller Marina softball overpowers Westlake in CIF-SS Division 3 championship game University softball holds off Rio Hondo Prep to win first CIF-SS title Previews of the CIF-SS softball finals for OC teams on Friday and Saturday Five Orange County players to watch in the CIF-SS softball championships Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( El Modena softball falls to Norco and ‘buzz saw’ pitcher in Division 1 final )
Also on site :