Support our high school sports coverage by becoming a digital subscriber. Subscribe now
Pacifica softball seniors Kayli Counts and Kaniya Bragg call it PPW for short, the “Pacifica Playoff Way.”
It’s the Mariners’ signal to increase their energy for the postseason, and it was on display Saturday at JSerra in the CIF-SS Division 1 semifinals.
Pacifica players wore glitter and special braids in their hair and incorporated a white cowgirl hat as a rally cap.
And with a healthy dose of championship experience in their system, the defending Division 1 champion Mariners beat promising JSerra 1-0 to advance to next week’s championship game at Deanna Manning Stadium d ‘Irvine.
Senior pitcher Brynne Nally grounded freshman Abby Ford of JSerra, and No. 9 hitter Malia Cuevas scored the only run with a two-out single in the fifth inning to score pinch runner Abby Amezquita from second base.
“What a game,” Pacifica coach Tony Arduino said. “It feels good to be back in the final. It is not easy). I feel like the road has been harder this year than last year because the expectations are there for us to come back. All year round, the country’s No. 1. Lose a few matches.
“But you know what,” the coach added, “this team doesn’t give up. I don’t care what the score was. We had just six outs left in the first round and we rallied.
Advancing to next week’s finale against Orange Lutheran, Nally sealed the win for Pacifica (26-2) by inducing a groundout to third baseman Brooklyn Reyes with the tying run on second base.
“I felt calm,” said Nally, who allowed three hits, struck out eight and had two hits at the plate. “If you’re anxious or caught up in the moment, that’s when things happen to you. I have confidence in my teammates.
“Our team is very experienced,” the Long Beach State signee added. “We have played such close games before.”
This showed during a key defensive play in the fourth inning. Senior catcher Delaina Ma’ae delivered a base stealer at second base with a powerful throw to shortstop Bragg, who scored a nifty touchdown for the second out.
The play seemed important as Nally issued her only walk later at bat, but she closed out the inning by causing a groundout.
Nally helped spark the Mariners’ fifth with a two-out single. Catherine Benitez followed with a march, setting the stage for Cuevas, a senior transfer from Los Alamitos.
“(It was) an outfield, so I just put my bat out there,” Cuevas said. “It was definitely tough (against Ford).”
Ford allowed three hits and struck out seven to help JSerra (18-14), which reached its first Division 1 semifinal. Shortstop Kaylee Layfield, one of three key seniors for the Lions, added two hits, including one to open the seventh.
“The difference at Pacifica is their depth, experience and maturity,” JSerra coach Katie Stith said. “It was a bit of a learning and growing experience for (us)…but I’m proud of my kids.”
In the other Division 1 semi-final:
Orange Lutheran 13, Murrieta Mesa 1: Brianne Weiss pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and Kai Minor went 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBIs to lead the No. 1-seeded Lancers (22-3) to their first final section since 2016.
In division 2:
Gahr 7, Mater Dei 2: The host Gladiators defeated their third OC team of the playoffs to reach the final against California or Valley View of Moreno Valley.
In division 7:
Oxford Academy 5, Riverside d’Oro Grande 2 preparation: Freshman Emily Ganguly scattered seven hits and struck out five and Monique Rojas had two hits and three stolen bases to lead the top-seeded Patriots (25-5) to their first section final . They will face No. 3 Eastside of Lancaster in the final.
California Daily Newspapers