CIF Softball Playoffs: Santana, Christian, West Hills triumph

By Adam Paul
Updated: May 19, 2023

2023 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL

By Adam Paul

CIF San Diego Section Division II Second Round

#1 Santana 9, #5 Valhalla 5

SANTEE – Despite five runs scored against them in the late innings, the Santana Sultans still managed to pull out the victory over the Valhalla Norsemen in a second-round elimination game on Friday (May 19).

Santana would notch the game’s first run when Delaney Smith grounded out, scoring Taylinn Warren.

They would go on to extend that lead even further, scoring six runs in the fourth inning. Aurelia Dawson, Warren, Emma Schneider, and Smith all contributed RBIs in the inning. Dawson doubled in a run, Warren drove in a pair, and Schneider and Smith both had an RBI.

Valhalla, though, would finally break through on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning, as Cadyn Ruffer doubled in Aubrielle Mckee, and Preslee Fink followed by doubling in Brooke Tucci and Ruffer to make it 7-3.

The Sultans would answer back with a couple more runs in the bottom half of the inning, thanks to Dawson’s doubling in McKenna Miller, with another run scoring on a passed ball.

Now trailing 9-3, the Norsemen would again put a couple of runs aboard, as Allison Piscopo doubled in Taylor Mack. Later Piscopo would come into score when Fink singled to right field to make it 9-5.

That would be all Dawson would give up, despite a pair of singles by Devyn Mack and Avery Voth in the top of the seventh inning.

Dawson would garner the win as she went all seven innings, allowing five runs on thirteen hits and striking out six.

Naomi Villalva got the starting nod for the Norsemen, and would be saddled with the loss as she lasted three and a third innings in which she gave up seven runs on eight hits and struck out two, Mack came in and tossed two and two-thirds innings of relief, giving up two runs on two hits.

Valhalla with the loss is now officially eliminated from the playoffs and finishes their season 18-12-1 overall.

Santana with the victory snaps their four-game losing streak and improves to 18-8-1. They will now advance to the third round on Saturday (May 20) to be played at home in another elimination game, this time against #4 Clairemont, who lost 6-2 to #8 Westview on Friday.

CIF San Diego Section Division III Second Round

#6 Christian 4, #2 Mira Mesa 1

MIRA MESA – Senior Allyson Moody struck out five, overcoming the Mira Mesa Marauders on Friday (May 19), as Christian came away with the victory.

The last time Allyson Moody faced the Marauders, she was tagged with the loss, when she allowed four runs over four innings of work. This time she was on fire, limiting them to one run on four hits over seven innings of work.

Christian, who lost both league games against Mira Mesa this time around, scattered nine hits as they outhit them 9-4.

Offensive runs for the Patriots would come in both the fourth and fifth innings, starting with Keelayana Carrizosa, who scored on an error. Lucy Sherburne drove in Allyson Moody to give them a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning. They would add two more runs in the fifth inning, as Tyler Krystek scored on another error by the Marauders and Carrizosa scored on a wild pitch.

Mira Mesa would score their lone run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Krystek, Moody, Sherburne, and Carrizosa all had multiple hits for the Patriots.

The Marauders see their seven-game winning streak snapped and move to the challengers bracket. They will face West Hills on Saturday (May 20) in Santee for a scheduled start time of 11 AM.

Christian has now won five in a row and will wait until Tuesday (May 23) when they take on the winner of the West Hills vs Mira Mesa game.

#3 West Hills 7, #7 Mission Vista 0

SANTEE – Both Ava Goodman and Maddie Aylesbury combined to completely shut down the Mission Vista Timberwolves on Friday (May 19) in a second-round elimination game.

Goodman, who started, picked up the win as she struck out six over six innings, in which she allowed only two hits. Aylesbury came in and tossed an inning in relief allowing no runs and no hits.

Offensively the Wolf Pack pounded out 10 hits, including three players who accrued multiple hits.

Freshman Katy Spargo, who was one of those who had multiple hits, also drove in three runs, scored once, and doubled twice. Her teammate Amaya Angeli had a pair of hits, as did Kristina Deal who drove in one and scored twice.

The Wolf Pack would notch three runs in the third inning, led by both Aylesbury and Spargo, who both doubled in the inning.

Rian Hickman of Mission Vista would be tagged with the loss, as she allowed seven runs on ten hits over six innings while striking out nine.

Mission Vista with the loss is officially eliminated from the playoffs and finishes the season 21-8 overall.

West Hills will advance to take on Mira Mesa, who lost to Christian. That game will be slated for Saturday (May 20) at 11 AM. They improve to 18-8-1 on the season.

CIF San Diego Section Division I Second Round

#5 Cathedral Catholic 6, #9 Patrick Henry 4

DEL MAR HEIGHTS – Fours runs scored in the third inning would be enough for the Cathedral Catholic Dons, as they stymied a small late rally by the Patrick Henry Patriots to claim the victory on Friday (May 19) in an elimination game.

Both Jenna Mallari and Leila Ludwig would lead the Patrick Henry offensive attack with a pair of hits, but it wasn’t enough.

Ludwig, who drove in three runs total, would also double in the second inning, scoring a run.

McKenna Geiger doubled and scored a run for the Patriots.

Sophia Clark was the winning pitcher for the Dons. She surrendered four runs on seven hits over seven innings, striking out ten.

Zoe Rutherford, who started for the Patriots, would take the loss. She would last three and two-thirds innings, allowing five runs on six hits and striking out two.

Cathedral Catholic improves to 20-9-1 overall and will advance to take on Steele Canyon on Saturday (May 20) scheduled for a start time of 11 AM in Spring Valley. It will be a rematch of a first-round contest on Wednesday (May 17) in which Steele Canyon came away victorious 8-3.

Patrick Henry is officially eliminated from the playoffs and finishes their season with a 15-13-1 overall record.

#1 Otay Ranch 11, #4 Steele Canyon 1

CHULA VISTA – Six early runs were all that was needed, as the top-seeded Otay Ranch Mustangs easily dispatched #4 Steele Canyon on Friday (May 19) in a second-round game.

Offensively, Steele Canyon struggled to get things going, as they were limited to only four hits on the day.

Jazmin Williams, Kamea Seunarine, Danika Lakin, and Gabrielle Ortega Alves had the only hits for the Cougars against the Mustangs pitching.

The lone run for the Cougars would come courtesy of a misplayed ball hit by Ily Barclay that allowed Lakin to score.

Emma Shellstrom would take the loss for the Cougars, allowing six runs on six hits over four innings of work and striking out one.

Alexa Munoz picked up the win for the Mustangs, as she allowed no runs on one hit, while striking out one over two innings. Emily Alverado fanned four in her four innings of work, allowing one run on three hits.

Steele Canyon falls to 17-12 with the loss and will now face Cathedral Catholic once again, this time in an elimination game. This past Wednesday, they defeated them 8-3. Game time will be 11 AM on Saturday (May 20).

Otay Ranch moves their winning streak to eight in a row and improves their record to 21-6. They await the winner of the Cathedral/Steele Canyon game. That contest will be Tuesday (May 23) scheduled for 3:30 PM.