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CIF-SS SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Deanna Manning Stadium, Irvine
FRIDAY
DIVISION 2
Whittier Christian (22-8-1) vs. Mater Dei (19-11), 4 p.m.
Outlook: It’s a clash of high-powered offenses and schools aiming to end title droughts.
No. 2 seeded Mater Dei is averaging 7.3 runs in the playoffs. The Monarchs feature a deep lineup that begins with sophomore Tulutululelei Salue. The first baseman is hitting about .476 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. First-year Mater Dei coach Nicole Wise moved Salue to the leadoff spot in the middle of the Trinity League and the offense responded down the stretch. No. 8 batter Savanah Duncan has been hot in recent weeks. “Our lineup goes for days,” Wise said.
Whittier Christian is averaging 10.8 runs in the postseason. The Heralds feature their own power-hitting first baseman in Mia Camacho. The junior, who is committed to Rutgers, is hitting .535 with a single-season, school-record 16 home runs and 57 RBIs. Whittier Christian coach Dale Van Duyn calls Camacho one of the best hitters he has seen “in a long time.” Arizona State commit Sofia Hernandez is hitting .533 with 22 extra-base hits. As a team, Whittier Christian has hit 48 home runs.
Mater Dei, which is seeking its first title since 2016, is led in the circle by senior Citlaly Valencia. The UC Riverside commit excels at changing speeds. Whittier Christian junior Sofia Gonzalez has tossed four complete games in the playoffs with a 3.50 ERA. The Heralds are seeking their section first title since 2010.
The teams’ leagues offer a striking contrast. Mater Dei finished third in the highly-ranked Trinity League while Whittier Christian dominated the Olympic League. But don’t overlook the Heralds. They were eighth in the final Division 2 rankings, knocked off top-seeded Bonita and rallied for seven runs in the seventh inning to beat St. Paul in the semifinals.
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DIVISION 1
JSerra (24-8) vs. La Mirada (26-4), 7 p.m.
Outlook: The Lions have reached a second consecutive section final on the strength of ace Liliana Escobar and an improved offense.
Escobar, a senior committed to Florida, pitched shutouts against Pacifica and No. 2 Norco in the quarterfinals and semifinals to extend her scoreless streak to 15 innings. She struck out 10 in a 1-0 win at Pacifica and 14 in a 2-0 triumph at Norco. “What she’s done in postseason, in particular the last two games, she’s been on another level,” JSerra coach Katie Stith said.
Escobar is 17-5 with a 1.25 ERA and a single-season, school-record 252 strikeouts in 146 innings. She is familiar with La Mirada and the championship stage. The reigning O.C. pitcher of the year tossed three scoreless innings in a 5-2 victory against La Mirada at the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions. Last season in the Division 2 final, Escobar pitched 10 innings with 16 strikeouts in a 3-0 loss against Los Alamitos.
JSerra’s offense produced a combined three hits in the quarterfinals and semifinals but two were solo home runs by catcher Annabel Raftery. The sophomore leadoff batter has sparked the offense by hitting .429 with a single-season, school-record 12 home runs. Senior Zena Edwards has delivered her best season by hitting .395 with seven home runs and 23 RBIs. Freshman center fielder Magenta De Arte batted cleanup in the semifinals and delivered an RBI single. She is hitting .330.
JSerra is seeking its first section title.
Fourth-seeded La Mirada is led by twins Riley and Reese Hilliard. Riley, a catcher, is committed to Oklahoma while shortstop Reese is committed to Stanford. The juniors have combined for 27 doubles, 17 home runs and 71 RBIs. Junior Alison Ortega (20-2, 1.05 ERA) leads La Mirada in the circle.
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