Mission Viejo lets opportunity slip away

Ayala of Chino Hills was an unknown quantity heading into this season, but that quickly changed when the Bulldogs knocked off powerhouses Kennedy and Santiago of Corona in consecutive games at the Nike Faster to First Tournament in March.

Ayala was a live underdog heading into its game against fourth-seeded Mission Viejo in the second round of the CIF-SS Division II playoffs on Tuesday at Mission Viejo.

The Bulldogs converted three Diablos’ miscues into four unearned runs to pull away for a 5-3 victory at Mission Viejo High.

Ayala (21-10-1) moves on to the quarterfinals for a rematch against El Modena, which beat the Bulldogs, 3-1, on March 15 at the Nike Tournament. A coin flip Wednesday will determine the home team.

“It’s a good thing we’ve seen them (El Modena) and it’s a bad thing, but I think it’s more of a good thing for me because I know how their hitters are,” Ayala’s sophomore pitching ace Jessica Hall said.

With a team that hits as well as Mission Viejo, and with the wind blowing out, Hall showed a lot of poise and composure by not getting frazzled when the Diablos (23-7-1) got some hits.  She ended up scattering six hits, giving up two earned runs, walking two and striking out nine to record the complete-game victory.

“My team keeps me relaxed,” Hall said. “The fact that every inning they can get me a run or hits here and there, just gives me confidence to know that my team has my back. It makes it a lot easier on me.”

Nicole Haley staked the Bulldogs to a 1-0 lead with a solo homer to lead off the game.

The Diablos responded in the bottom of the first when Tory Speer drove in Michelle Tait with a sacrifice fly.

Mari Massei’s two-run single with two outs after an error and a walk pushed the Bulldogs’ lead to 3-1.

The Diablos picked up an unearned run in the bottom of the third to cut it to 3-2, but gave back an unearned run in the fourth as Ayala made it 4-2.

Mission Viejo’s MacKensey Carter, who doubled earlier in the game, drilled a solo homer to right-center field in the fifth to cut it to 4-3.

Mission Viejo committed an error with two outs in the top of the seventh and Stephanie Martinez made them pay with an RBI double to extend the lead to 5-3.

(Click here for more game stats)

In other Division II games:

Kennedy 6, Peninsula (Rolling Hills Estates) 0: Cal-bound Jamia Reid went 4 for 4 with two runs, Kim Frazier went 3 for 4 with two homers and three RBIs and St. Mary’s-bound Monica Aguilar went 2 for 3 with a homer and two RBIs to lead the top-seeded Fighting Irish (28-3) past the host Panthers (15-12).

El Modena 4, Temescal Canyon (Lake Elsinore) 2: Allison Taylor went 3 for 4 and drove in three runs as the Vanguards (23-8-1) knocked off the host Titans (22-7).

Pacifica 6, Tesoro 1: Arizona State-bound Christina Zambrana belted a two-run home run in the fourth to give the Mariners (21-11) a 2-1 and they never looked back en route to a victory over the visiting Titans (16-9-1).

In Division I:
Esperanza 2, La Sierra (Riverside) 1: Ashley MacQueen doubled with one out and the eight and scored the winning run on Trea Steele’s single to give the Aztecs (22-6-2) the victory over the host Eagles (21-6).

Simi Valley 1, Trabuco Hills 0:Loyola Marymount-bound Sam Fisher knocked in the game’s lone run as the top-seeded Pioneers (28-0) held on to defeat the visiting Mustangs (18-12-1).

Thousand Oaks 3, Rosary 2: Brooke Johnson drove in Tiffany Messerschmidt, who went 3 for 5 with three runs scored, with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the ninth as the Lancers (25-5) pulled out the victory over the visiting Royals (21-10).

Valencia (Valencia) 7, Santa Margarita 3: Lani Bernardino went 3 for 4, scored two runs and drove in a run to lift the third-seeded Vikings (26-5-1) over the host Eagles (15-11-1).

In Division III:

Laguna Hills 8, Santa Clara 0: Christine Gomez pitched a three-hit shutout, and Lauren Lastrapes scored two runs and drove in two runs as the Hawks (22-6-1) won at Santa Clara (24-3) to advance to the third round. The Hawks scored five runs in the fourth to seize control of the game, 7-0.

Rancho Alamitos 3, Burbank 2: Kari Gutierrez went 2 for 3, scored a run and drove in a run and she scattered four hits, walked two and struck out five to pick up the victory as the Vaqueros (20-6-1) upset the second-seeded Bulldogs (24-3).

Beckman 2, Colton 0: Jasmin Harrell pitched a two-hitter with no walks and 10 strikeouts and Long Beach State-bound Megan Denio went 2 for 2 with a sacrifice bunt and two stolen bases to help the Patriots (23-6) defeat the host Yellowjackets (19-7).

La Serna (Whittier) 2, Garden Grove 1: Long Beach State-bound Holly Consterdine went 2 for 3 and she allowed three hits and struck out nine to pick up the victory as the Lancers (24-4) knocked off the host Argos (18-13).

Cajon (San Bernardino) 4, Fullerton 3: Cal State Fullerton-bound Katey Laban scattered six hits, walked one and struck out eight for the Indians (22-8) in the loss to the visiting Cowboys (22-6).

Santa Monica 3, Sonora 1: Celisha Walker allowed three hits, struck out six and went 3 for 4 with a double and an RBI to lift the Vikings (23-8) over the host Raiders (17-12).

In Division IV:

Ocean View 3, Rowland (Rowland Heights) 2:The fourth-seeded Seahawks (25-1) got two runs in the top of the seventh and held on to beat the the host Raiders (13-14). Nikole Afusia, Vanessa Cardoza, Sarah Craig and Brandice Cutspec each had two hits apiece to lead Ocean View’s 10-hit attack.

In Division VI:

Paraclete (Lancaster) 4, Oxford Academy 3: The Spirits (21-7) got a run in the bottom of the ninth to knock off the host Patriots (17-8). Alex Skinkis went 3 for 4 with a triple and two runs scored for Oxford Academy in the loss.
 

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com