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Aliso Niguel’s Amanda Elkins, right, celebrates with catcher Tessa Cowsill after the Wolverines their South Coast League softball game against San Clemente in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Aliso Niguel’s Tessa Cowsill rounds the bases after hitting a home run in the first inning against San Clemente in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Puka Iosua gets under the tag of Aliso Niguel’s Tessa Cowsill to score a run in the second inning in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Sydney Bishop is forced at second by Aliso Niguel’s Sloan Lorenzo in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Kennedy Pyne makes contact trying to get something started in the second inning against Aliso Viejo in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente catcher Havyn Nekritz fields a wide throw to the plate as Aliso Viejo scores a run in the second inning in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Aliso Niguel’s Tessa Cowsill celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run in the first inning against San Clemente in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Delaney Bautista objects to being called out at second during a South Coast League softball game against Aliso Viejo in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Aliso Niguel’s Sloan Lorenzo makes a complete turn after fielding a grounder up the middle to make the throw to first in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
San Clemente’s Luca Cifuentes delivers a pitch against Aliso Viejo in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Aliso Niguel’s Amanda Elkins delivers a pitch against San Clemente in a South Coast League softball game in Aliso Viejo on Thursday, April 30, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
ALISO VIEJO — Aliso Niguel catcher Tessa Cowsill raised her arms toward the sky and ran to hug pitcher Amanda Elkins. The Wolverines threw off their gloves and swarmed each other on the infield to celebrate. They doused coach Randie Baldwin with the water cooler.
There was no containing the excitement of Aliso Niguel’s softball team Thursday after it completed an impressive turnaround in the South Coast League.
Cowsill hit a home run in the first inning and Elkins pitched a three-hitter as the Wolverines clinched an undefeated South Coast League title with a 7-1 victory against visiting San Clemente.
Aliso Niguel finishes the regular season 16-12 overall and 8-0 in the South Coast. Last season, the Wolverines went 3-5 in league and missed the playoffs.
“It’s a very big comeback,” said Cowsill, a senior who helped the team capture the league in 2023. “It’s just so exciting when you play so well and you work so hard for it. All of our hard work is finally coning full circle.”
“I’m hoping we make it super far (in playoffs),” she added.
Cowsill, who is committed to BYU, belted a 1-0 pitch over the fence in center for a two-run home run in the first.
Case ya’ll forgot … Tessa Cowsill 💣2-0 Aliso end 1st pic.twitter.com/3W4rcaPSEc
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) April 30, 2026
The Wolverines strung together three consecutive RBI singles in the second to open a 5-1 lead against San Clemente (18-7, 5-2). The hits came from freshman No. 9 batter Hailey Okuma, leadoff batter Alexa Manning and shortstop Sloan Lorenzo.
Cowsill, Manning, Lorenzo and Okuma each finished with two hits for Aliso Niguel, which is ranked No. 13 in Orange County.
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Elkins, a sophomore, retired the final seven batters. She induced a fly to center fielder Eryn Lamey to end the game.
Elkins credited the turnaround to her team’s chemistry.
“It’s mostly just the love that we have for each other that’s really getting us through all these games,” said Elkins, who struck out three and walked one. “We’re fighting for each other.”
In a sign of a team-oriented approach, Baldwin asked Cowsill to fake a bunt to second in an attempt to extend the scoring.
On defense, Cowsill threw out a runner at second and caught a foul ball. Lorenzo ranged to her right and left to field groundballs for outs in the fifth. Manning made a diving catch in left in the second.
“It’s just a really selfless group led by our five seniors,” Baldwin said of Cowsill, Lorenzo, Lamey, Evie Scherffius and Maggie Long.
Sophomore Luca Cifuentes pitched a complete game for No. 14 San Clemente. First baseman Puka Iosua stole home in the second.
The Tritons are competing in the South Coast for the first time under third-year coach Elmer Roldan. “There’s definitely been progress,” he said. “We have to keep developing these girls and get better.”
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