The final four are in place for what’s widely considered the first major tournament of the softball season, and the faces are all familiar ones vying for the main prize.
Pacifica, Mission Viejo, Mater Dei and Los Alamitos each went 2-0 on Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the Best of the West Tournament which will take place on Saturday, March 18 at Pacifica High.
The host Mariners topped Great Oak, 5-4, in the second round on a walk-off RBI single from senior Hannah Martinez in the ninth inning.
The second-ranked Diablos edged out No. 5 La Habra, 3-1, to claim its place in the semis. Junior catcher Terra McGowan’s two-run single in the bottom of the fifth broke a 1-1 stalemate and highlighted a three-run inning in which Mission Viejo scored all of its runs with two outs.
The Diablos will play No. 6 Pacifica when the tournament continues in two weeks.
On the other side of the bracket, top-ranked Los Alamitos remained unbeaten behind a stellar pair of Ryan Denhart starts. The Griffins senior pitcher tossed 12 innings on Saturday and scattered just three hits and struck out nine. Mary Iakopo, Alexa Schultz and Andrea Gonzalez all homered in the first round. Gonzalez added a pair of doubles in a 3-1 win over San Marcos.
The Griffins will play No. 8 Mater Dei in the semis. The Monarchs scored 16 total runs on Saturday, beating Kennedy, 8-4, before an 8-0 win over Murrieta Valley. Maddison Flores went a combined 5-for-6 on the afternoon with a double and a home run. Erica Holt was 4-for-6 at the dish and finished with four total RBI.
Both semifinal games will start at 11 a.m. on March 18. The winners will move onto the championship game, which is set for a 3 p.m. start at Pacifica High.
In the Savanna Showcase Tournament:
Dana Hills 4, Santa Margarita 3: Junior catcher Tori Sickmeier’s RBI single in the top of the sixth inning broke a 3-3 tie and served as the game-winner as the Dolphins knocked off the Eagles. Sickmeier finished 2-for-3 at the plate with a pair of RBI. Jackie Stillwell went 2-for-2 for Dana Hills.
Fullerton 6, Calvary Chapel 4: Senior pitcher Kloee Scott struck out nine and went 2-for-3 at the dish with a triple, two runs and two RBI in leading the Indians past the Grizzlies. All four of Calvary Chapel’s run were unearned on the afternoon. Fullerton went 2-0 on Saturday, knocking off Whittier, 7-0, earlier in the day. Scott went 2-for-2 with three runs and two RBI in the opener. Mayra Encinas and Amanda Foglesong also had multi-hit performances for Fulleton.
Savanna 6, Chatsworth 3: Junior Annabella Andresen went 3-for-3, Sam Kennedy and Abigail Dennis each posted two RBI apiece and the Rebels remained unbeaten on the season with a win over the Chancellors. Savanna opened the day with a 3-1 win over Sierra Canyon in improving to 5-0 on the season.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@scng.com
