Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
IRVINE — A rotation featuring pitchers committed to Boise State, Mississippi, Loyola Marymount and Princeton wasn’t the only strength for the South at the Orange County Softball Coaches Senior All-Star Classic on Wednesday.
The South delivered the defense to support its standouts in the circle.
Buoyed by a spectacular running catch by Addison Day of Capistrano Valley, the South followed the pitching of Loula-Rae McNamara of Tesoro, Payton Kennedy and Sawyer Denser of Santa Margarita and Reece Uehara of Mission Viejo to shutout the North 3-0 in a six-inning game at Deanna Manning Stadium.
The foursome combined on a three-hitter and five strikeouts.
In the second game of the all-star doubleheader, the East and West tied 7-7 in a six-inning game.
Day, a center fielder committed to Wagner, saved a run in the first inning by racing to the gap in deep right-center to make an over-the-shoulder grab on a two-out drive by Rosary’s Domonique McCoy.
Speedy Kai Minor of Orange Lutheran was at second base, and would have likely scored if Day didn’t make the stretching catch.
Moments after the play, the South took the lead on a two-run single by Mission Viejo’s Kara King in the top of the second.
“(Day) totally set the tone for our whole team to show we can compete (and) we’re going to win the game,” said McNamara, a Boise State-bound left-hander who pitched the first two innings for the South. “I was so pumped up after that catch.”
Day led off the fourth inning with a triple and stole home on a double steal to cap the scoring.
It was quite the performance for a player who was added late to the South roster.
“I was just racking it all in,” Day said with a smile. “It was good getting to play another game.”
After Kennedy (Mississippi) and Denser (Loyola Marymount) each didn’t allow a hit in the third and fourth, respectively, the Princeton-bound Uehara pitched the final two innings to close out the victory.
In the sixth, the North brought the tying run to the plate with no outs.
Uehara responded by inducing Fullerton’s Abby Lee to line into a double play started by second baseman Loreale Blake of Santa Margarita. The right-handed pitcher then forced a popout to shortstop Camryn Bradshaw of El Toro to end the game.
“I was a little worried coming in but I knew I had the strong defense behind me so it was good,” Uehara said. “I’m very happy (we won). … You always have more fun when you win.”
The South’s defensive highlights also included a diving catch in left field by Sofia Zavarella of Santa Margarita in the fourth and Capistrano Valley catcher Micayla Turi throwing out a runner at second for the final out of the second.
Blake, who is committed to Seton Hall, applied an excellent tag on Turi’s throw and to help prevent a run scoring on a double steal attempt by the North.
King, a left-handed batter who signed with Division II Pace in New York, hit a 2-1 pitch to drive in two runs.
The senior, who hit .378 with 20 RBIs during the season, praised the South pitchers.
“They’re really impressive,” King said. “We’ve faced most of the so I know how hard it is to hit off them.”
Minor, The Register’s player of the year for 2025, made a leaping catch at the fence and diving catch in shallow center to lead the North’s defense. The Oklahoma-bound senior also had two stolen bases.
Between the games, which were sponsored by PGF, the Orange County softball Hall of Fame honored 11 inductees. They were: Marina co-coach Dan Hay, Brittany Lastrapes (Laguna Hills 2007), Laura Miklos (Orange Lutheran 2001), Garland Cooper (Santa Margarita 2003), Chelsea Gonzales (Rosary 2013), Suzie Barnett (Villa Park 1988), Brooke Turner (Kennedy 2007), Andrea Harrison (Pacifica 2008), Lauren Young (Canyon 2012), Amber Freeman (Mater Dei 2011) and Lisa Dacquisto (Ocean View 1993).
Related Articles
All-Orange County softball team, player of the year 2025 Shorthanded El Modena softball falls to Mater Dei Catholic in SoCal final Preview for El Modena softball’s SoCal regional final Saturday Parker Mayes’ walk-off home run lifts El Modena softball past Poway University softball beats Marquez in CIF SoCal Regional after weather delay Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Four South pitchers combine to shutout North in O.C. all-star softball game )
Also on site :