Fullerton softball flexes ‘program’ strength in victory against Sunny Hills – Orange County Register

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FULLERTON — The Fullerton softball team faces a double whammy if Malaya Majam-Finch is unable to play.

“Malaysia is like (Shohei) Ohtani (in Orange County softball),” Indians coach Trevor Holton said. “You lose your ace and you lose arguably your best hitter.”

Fullerton not only played without Majam-Finch at Sunny Hills on Wednesday, but it was also without center fielder Andrea Montes De Oca.

But the Indians overcame injuries to defeat the Lancers 8-5 and remain in contention to win the final Freeway League title.

Fullerton (18-7, 7-0), ranked 10th in Orange County and No. 11 in CIF-SS Division 3, scored six runs in the fifth inning to take control and back up closer Tianna Salcido.

“It shows we’re building a program,” Holton said. “We’re led (Majam-Finch) and we’re led by another starter and we’re going into the defending league champions without them and we played really well.”

“Maddie Moreno (of Sunny Hills) is a good pitcher,” Holton added of the Lancers starter. “It’s one of our goals to win the final Freeway League title.”

Maiah Rodriguez sparked Fullerton’s explosion in the fifth with a leadoff home run to right to break a 1-1 tie.

The Indians sent 11 batters to the plate in the frame and scored five more runs to open a 7-1 lead against Southern Utah-bound Moreno.

Fullerton showed its depth in the fifth as No. 9 hitter Ava Paquin hit a one-out bunt single after Rodriguez’s homer. After Hayley Brock followed with a single, second baseman Zoey Bautista drove in two runs with a double to right.

The Indians, the defending SoCal Division 3 champions, took advantage of an error, a wild pitch and an RBI single by Abby Lee to cap their six-run inning.

“Who really stepped up was our senior Maiah Rodriguez,” Holton said of his catcher, who singled later in the fifth and a run-scoring single in the second.

In the sixth inning, Brock homered to extend Fullerton’s lead to 8-1.

No. 24 Sunny Hills (8-9, 4-3) responded with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, but a spectacular diving play by Bautista at second base ended the threat. With two runners on base, the senior ran to her left to catch a ground ball and throw it to Lee at first.

Salcido pitched the final four innings in relief to earn the victory. The Tennessee State-bound senior escaped a jam with one out and the bases loaded in the fourth to set the tone for the Indians’ explosion in the fifth.

Salcido started the game at center and made a great catch in the third period on a drive near the fence.

Katelynn Mathews, a freshman, started in the circle for Fullerton but was limited to three innings due to a sore back, Holton said.

“Katelynn is at 50 percent right now,” he said. “This kid is tough.”

Majam-Finch injured his knee during Monday’s practice, Holton said. The sophomore is 9-3 with a 1.36 ERA and also leads the team with 34 RBIs.

“I think it’s just a bone bruise, but we don’t know,” said Holton, whose team plays second-ranked Sonora (11-8, 5-2) on Friday. “We also want it in the long term and without pushing anything.”

Catcher Riley Gonzalez had three hits to help pace the Sunny Hills offense. Shortstop Olivia Pedraza tripled and scored on a single by Elayna Marquez in the first as the Lancers took an early lead.