SGV/Whittier Prep Sports Zone: CIF-SS Baseball/Softball Championship Roundup

Gahr rallies to win the D-2 Softball title over California; Corona wins the D-1 Baseball title over Harvard-Westlake

California High Softball team photo after suffering a 5-4 loss to Gahr in a CIF-SS Div. 2 Final at Deanna Manning Stadium. (Escarcega)

SOFTBALL

Division 2

Gahr 5, California 4: In a game that took exactly two hours to play, but was mixed in with high drama, big hits, huge decisions with ramifications that will be talked about for years to come, Marley Cortez single to center field with two outs, scored Larissa Flores and Natalia Hill with the winning runs in the bottom of the 7th inning.

(Escarcega)

The Condors appeared to be on track for a sectional title win in the top of the seventh inning when Shirley Acevedo hit a solo home run over the left field fence for a 4-3 lead. 

(Escarcega)

Gahr tied the game in the bottom of the sixth inning on a double by Rio Mendez that scored Cortez. That hit was off Pricilla Ramirez, who came in relief in the sixth inning to replace starter Alexis Salas. Salas reentered the game in the seventh inning. She allowed 3 runs on five hits and struck out four with her fastball reaching a 63 TOP. 

Isabella Salas was one of the offensive stars of the game for the Condors as she went 3 for 34 with an RBI. Gahr’s Isabella Gonzalez, a freshman, surrendered three runs on nine hits, struck out two in a complete-game effort, and earned the win. Her fastball had a 62 TOP. 

Division 3

Etiwanda 3, ML King 1: Alyssa Galindo was the star in this championship game as she pitched a complete game, allowing one unearned run on five hits and striking out six. She also hit a solo home run in the top of the third inning. Brianna Gutierrez went 2 for 3 and scored a run. 

Division 5

Valley Christian 8, Liberty 7: In a game that saw both teams combine for 15 runs, 22 hits, and 8 errors, sophomore catcher Peyton Kingery showed why she is one of the top caliber catchers in Southern California as she went 4 for 5 with 2 RBIs to lead the Defenders to a sectional title. Brianna Ramirez had two hits. Liberty mounted a rally in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring four runs, but Yasmine Lopez was left stranded in the seventh inning with Emma Carlos grounding out and Lissette Quinones popping out to third baseman Brianna Ramirez to end the game. 

Division 7

Eastside 11, Oxford Academy 2: Lucy Navarro was tough in the circle as she allowed four hits and struck out eight in a complete-game effort. She also had two hits with an RBI in four plate appearances. Bethanie Jimenez went 3 for 4 with 3 RBIs. 

BASEBALL 

Division 1

Corona 5, Harvard-Westlake 0: The Panthers clinched one of the most remarkable seasons in years as Ethan Schiefelbein tossed a two-hitter and struck out nine. Sam Burgess hit a home run over the monstrous right-field fence and finished the game with three hits. Duncan Marsten allowed four runs on six hits and fanned four in 4 2/3 innings of work. 

Division 3

Beckman 2, St. John Bosco 1: Jagger Snitko was the hero as his single in the bottom of the eighth inning scored Isaiah Kapur with the winning run. Zach Ireland allowed two hits and struck out five in seven innings of work to earn the win. Bosco’s Julian Garcia went the distance and fanned four hitters. 

Division 4

Camarillo 2, St. Francis 1: The Scorpions scored two runs in the top of the seventh inning and held on for a thrilling win over the Golden Knights. Trotter Enright and Nate Tostado brought in both runs for Camarillo. Dane Shepard drove in Landon Pratt with the only run for St. Francis in the third inning. St. Francis’ pitching combination of Aaron Hernandez, Noah Aguilar, and Aiden Mahoney struck out seven hitters. 

Division 8

Azusa 5, Pacifica Christian/Orange County 0: The Aztecs posted four runs in the first inning and never looked back in winning a sectional title. Josh Torrez tossed a two-hitter and struck out 12. Jacob Elliot went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs and Isaac Miranda had a run-scoring triple.