No more playoffs for HB, Edison

Huntington Beach High and Edison were the only two local prep softball teams still in contention for a CIF Southern Section championship this week, but both the Oilers and Chargers saw their respective seasons come to a close after Division 1 losses Tuesday.

Huntington Beach traveled to Temecula for its second-round game at Great Oak. The Oilers were done in by three, “wind-blown” home runs, Coach Jeff Forsberg said, and the three-hit pitching of Wolfpack senior Autumn Storms in a 4-1 defeat.

Huntington struck first when junior Ivy Davis singled, stole second base and scored on a passed ball in the top of the first inning. Seniors Anna Kufta and Gabi Hirsch also had hits for the Oilers. Davis (seven hits, four runs) also threw six innings.

Great Oak, champion of the Southwestern League, tied the score in the bottom of the first, went in front for good with a two-run third inning, and scored its final run in the fifth. The Wolfpack advanced to face Mater Dei (Trinity League No. 3) in a quarterfinal game Thursday. The Monarchs upset top-seeded Etiwanda (Baseline League champion) Tuesday, 2-1.

“I’m proud how we went into this game and were battling till the end,” Forsberg said. “We just could not get anything going against an effective pitcher (Storms) but still had a chance at the end. Could not be prouder of my team and year, and we learned all year.”

Huntington began the playoffs May 19 and held off Long Beach Millikan (Moore League No. 2) for a 5-4 victory. Kufta racked up three RBIs on three hits with singles singled in the second, third and fifth innings. Hirsch had a two-run single in the second.

Hirsch had two hits and Davis, Bunker, senior Kristina Inouye and sophomore Kelli Kufta had hits to pace the Oilers’ nine-hit attack. Davis (six innings, four runs, four hits, five strikeouts) earned the pitching win.

The Oilers produced the most victories in a season in program history in ending their year 21-7.

“The success of the year has been building for the last four years,” Forsberg said. “Our senior class was the most successful class of all time, both on and off the field. I believe in my heart that I was truly blessed to be with all of them daily for the last four years and am very excited to follow them into their next chapter of college experiences. And, I’m so excited for our future players and the program as a whole, as we take another major step forward.

“The game gives and takes away and [Tuesday], we might have been on the losing end, but this whole group of players have set a positive tone for years to come. And, that is all a coach can ask for.”

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•Edison hosted Moore League champion Lakewood in another Division 1 second-round game Tuesday, and lost to the Lancers, 7-1.

Lakewood sophomore pitcher Vanessa Foreman allowed only three hits and an unearned run with five strikeouts as the Lancers (26-4) advanced to take on Trinity League champion and No. 2-seeded Orange Lutheran in a quarterfinal game Thursday. Orange Lutheran routed Cypress (Empire League No. 2) Tuesday, 12-2.

Edison had moved on in postseason play by picking up a big road win in their first-round game May 19. The Chargers went to Saugus and downed the Centurions, 2-1.

The Chargers, the No. 3 team from the Sunset League, finished their season 17-13.

“This season has brought us some of my most exciting games as a coach and I am extremely proud of the way the girls fought till the end,” Edison Coach Kim Ensey said. “Moving forward, you can see some important changes to the Edison program to continue to strive to compete at the highest level and contend for a CIF championship in the near future.”

The Division 1 semifinal games are next Tuesday.

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michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca