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Oxford Academy Athletic Director Dave Clifton can feel the excitement on campus about the Patriots’ run to the CIF-SS softball final this week.
“Every teacher I pass by gives me a first push and the girls say the same thing,” said Clifton, also an assistant coach for the team.
Yes, interest is growing in Orange County softball circles as Oxford Academy, Orange Lutheran and Pacifica qualified for this week’s championships in Irvine.
Orange Lutheran (21-3) and Pacifica (26-2) are set to face off Friday in Orange County’s first Division 1 final since 2016 when they meet at Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial’s Deanna Manning Stadium Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Saturday morning, Oxford Academy (25-5) will play its first sectional final against Eastside of Lancaster (22-10) in Division 7. The game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Tickets for the final can only be purchased online at GoFan.co. General admission is $12 and students/children are $5. Parking is free both days.
Deanna Manning Stadium will host a total of eight finals on Friday and Saturday, but for local fans, the all-county matchup could be the most intriguing.
This is a matchup between the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in Orange County, and the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in the division.
Orange Lutheran is No. 1 in both polls while Pacifica is No. 2 and the defending Division 1 champion.
And if that wasn’t enough, the teams split their two regular season games.
“It’s going to be a big battle,” said Capistrano Valley coach Freddy Gomez, whose Cougars played both teams.
Both schools have star-studded lineups, especially in the pitching department.
Orange Lutheran is led by senior left-hander Brianne Weiss (19-1) while Pacifica is anchored by senior right-hander Brynne Nally (21-2).
Gomez thinks hitters on both teams will have to do their homework to prepare for Notre Dame signee Weiss and Long Beach State signee Nally.
“It’s going to be a big pitching festival and whoever can make the most adjustments to the pitchers (will have an advantage),” Gomez said. “It’s going to be an exciting match.”
Both offenses are deep and fast.
Trinity League champion Orange Lutheran is averaging 10.3 points in the postseason. Empire League champion Pacifica is averaging 6.0 points in the playoffs.
The Lancers have Oklahoma junior commit Kai Minor at third in their batting order. The Mariners counter with UCLA-bound shortstop Kaniya Bragg.
The last Division 1 all-county final featured some offense. Mater Dei defeated Orange Lutheran 8-2 in 2016.
Oxford Academy, an at-large team in League 605, is the top seed in Division 7.
Coach Bob Whitney’s team opened the season winning its first 17 games. After finishing fourth in the 605 League, the Patriots outscored their four playoff opponents 52-11. They average 13.0 carries per game.
Oxford Academy, part of the Anaheim Union District, mixed top senior hitters such as Ella Pace (.618) and Monique Rojas (.515) with freshman pitchers Emily Ganguly (22-4) .
The Patriots’ championship aspirations this week aren’t limited to softball. The school’s baseball team plays Tuesday at Desert Christian in Lancaster in the Division 7 semifinals.
“(We) hope to make two finals,” Clifton said.
Orange Lutheran attempts the same feat on the diamond. The Lancers baseball team will host Harvard-Westlake in the Division 1 semifinals Tuesday night at Hart Park in Orange.
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