IRVINE – In terms of pitching performances, it was an absolute masterpiece by both starters.
Friday night’s CIF-SS Division 2 championship game between Mission Viejo and Chino started with a Cowgirls single, and ended with a Diablos single.
In between, Taylor McQuillin and Miranda Viramontes collectively tallied 32 strikeouts, surrendered zero base hits and allowed a total of two balls to be hit out of the infield.
While Chino’s leadoff single to open the ballgame proved to do no damage to the Diablos, Kayleen Shafer’s chopper to centerfield proved to be the knockout blow.
With one out and the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, the Diablos junior catcher collected Mission’s only base hit of the game, an RBI single that gave Mission Viejo a 1-0 walk-off victory over Chino High for the Division 2 championship on Friday night at Bill Barber Park.
“Taylor gave up a leadoff single to start the game, we got a double play and nobody got a hit the rest of the game,” said Diablos coach Troy Ybarra. “So they got the first hit, I’ll take the last hit, and we got the patch.”
Mission Viejo finished the season with a 26-1 overall record and Friday’s win gave the Diablos its first CIF softball championship in school history.
Mission certainly earned it, as Virmaontes put on an equally as impressive performance against a loaded Diablos lineup.
“Miranda is an amazing pitcher, a two-time CIF champion and she came out trying to finish her senior year strong,” McQuillin said. “She’s overall amazing, and she held us (hitless) to the bottom of the ninth inning and that’s not something a lot of people can do. She’s going to do some amazing things in college.”
In nine innings of work, McQuillin tallied 17 punch outs, struck out the side three times, and pitched to the minimum number of batters despite allowing two base runners.
After striking out the side in the top of the ninth, Mission Viejo’s Allison Harvey led off the bottom of the inning with a walk. Two batters later, McQuillin also walked, putting runners at first and second with Alyssa Palomino coming to the plate.
The Cowgirls (27-5-1) ultimately decided to walk the Diablos star centerfielder to load the bases with Shafer coming to the plate with one out in the inning.
After fouling off three consecutive pitches to start the at-bat, the junior chopped a ball to centerfield to score the game-winning run.
“I took it personal and I wanted to show them that I can hit the ball, and it worked out,” she said. “Our whole motto this season has been all in. Everything we do, we’re all in. I think that just helped us stay together all year and come away with a victory tonight.”
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com
