Esperanza needs six-run sixth inning to beat Rosary
Top-ranked Esperanza rallied for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to pull out a 10-6 victory over Rosary in a wild slugfest at the 25th Michelle Carew Classic on Friday night at Peralta Park.
"I have no idea, but they are blast," Aztecs first baseman Kelsea Roth said of Esperanza's latest comeback victory. "We're so supportive of each other. We're never down.
"We know that we are a great team and we can come back. We always have the spirit for it."
Rosary took a 3-0 lead in the top of the second, but Roth erased that deficit with a grand slam in the bottom of the third.
Megan Arnold added a solo shot in the bottom of the fourth to give the Aztecs a 5-3 lead.
Rosary stormed back with three runs in the top of the fifth on a solo homer by Lauren Rodriguez and a two-run blast by Chelsea Gonzales as the Royals regained a 6-5 lead.
Jasmine Lee had a two-run triple in the bottom of the sixth to give Esperanza a 7-6 advantage. Stephanie Maciel drove her in with a fielder's choice. Then Roth added a titanic two-run homer to cap the comeback. The game was called after six innings due to the time limit.
Esperanza will play Canyon, a 1-0 winner over Kennedy, in the semifinals on Saturday at 1:30 p.m.
Canyon ace Cheyanne Tarango tossed a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts to outduel Kennedy's Mariah Ramirez, who allowed six hits and struck out two.
Norco, which beat Vista Murrieta, 4-0, in the quarterfinals, plays Oaks Christian of Westlake Village in the other semifinal at 1:15 p.m. The championship game will be played at 7:30 p.m.
Cassidy Gustafson went 3 for 4 with a double and a home run and she pitched a complete game as Trabuco Hills held on for a 6-5 consolation victory over Aliso Niguel.
Noelle Wagner went 2 for 2 with a solo homer to help Orange Lutheran beat California of Whittier, 8-0, in five innings via the mercy rule in a consolation game.
In the Trinity League:
Mater Dei 8, JSerra 0: Nicolette Udria went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs and Amber Freeman went 3 for 4 with a run and two RBIs as the visiting Monarchs defeated the Lions.
In the Academy League:
Oxford Academy 2, Whitney (Cerritos) 0: Cassie Oregel tossed a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Cassandra Coleman went 3 for 4 with a run scored to lift the visiting Patriots over the Wildcats.
In the Golden West League:
Ocean View 2, Loara 0: Brittany Hitchcock pitched a three-hitter with one walk and five strikeouts to lead the visiting Seahawks.
Orange 12, Santa Ana 3: Shelby Singer went 4 for 4 with a double and Jillian Godinez went 3 for 5 with a double to lead the Panthers' 17-hit attack.
