Power surge derails Flintridge Prep softball’s playoff run
Flintridge Prep’s Taylor Yoshida and the Rebels lost in the second round Tuesday to Savanna.
LA CAÑADA — One of the most successful seasons turned in by the Flintridge Prep softball team in the last decade came to a close Tuesday.
The Rebels entered the campaign looking to achieve a couple of goals, ranging from challenging for the Prep League championship to advancing further in the CIF Southern Section Division VI playoffs.
While Flintridge Prep met each goal, it couldn’t stop the power surge turned in by Savanna in a second-round game.
Second-seeded Savanna hit five home runs to record a 14-0 win against host Flintridge Prep. The game was called after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
“I’m so proud of all the things we were able to accomplish,” said Flintridge Prep Coach Julie Mejia, whose team finished second in league behind Chadwick and began the postseason with a 10-0 home win against Boron. “We had a lot of talented players come back and put up great seasons and we’ll have most of our team back next season.
“We were able to raise the bar and we’ll look to do it again next year. We ran into an outstanding team today. They have a lot of very good hitters.”
Savanna (28-2-1) got back-to-back home runs in the first and third innings to turn back Flintridge Prep (14-6), which received a berth in the playoffs last season for the first time since 2011. It also received a perfect game from Shyanne Fennell, who struck out five.
Savanna, which finished first in the Orange League before rolling to a 15-1 first-round win against Shadow Hills, scored three runs in the first to grab a 3-0 lead.
After a throwing error by the catcher made it 1-0, Savanna got back-to-back home runs from Samantha Kennedy and Marisa Meza to extend the lead to 3-0.
A two-run home run in the second by Kristin Worley extended the lead to 5-0.
Savanna scored six runs in the third to pad its advantage to 11-0. Meza and Maricel Egan hit back-to-back home runs to highlight the inning.
“We like to get out early by playing some action ball,” Savanna Coach Mike Willey said. “We got some people on base and got the early runs.
“We didn’t know anything about Flintridge Prep. They have a good coach and some young players and they have a lot to be proud of, too.”
