Southern Section 2-A Softball Playoffs : Melendrez Lifts Laguna Hills Into Final Against Woodbridge Again

Margo Melendrez got two hits, scored twice and pitched a three-hitter to lead Laguna Hills High School to a 4-1 victory over Corona in a Southern Section 2-A semifinal softball game Tuesday at Alicia Park in Mission Viejo.

The victory, Laguna Hills’ second in two years over Corona (22-5) in the 2-A semifinals, lifted the Hawks (20-9) into Friday’s 6 p.m. championship game at Mayfair Park in Lakewood against Woodbridge, a 1-0 winner over Arroyo Tuesday in the other semifinal.

Woodbridge and Laguna Hills, both members of the Pacific Coast League, met for the 2-A championship last season and shared the title, with the game called after 14 innings with the score tied at 0-0.

Melendrez (19-8), who pitched three consecutive shutouts before Tuesday’s game, lost her chance for a fourth in the first inning. Mary Ann Sekel, who led off with a single, was sacrificed to second by Corona pitcher Kari Pucci.

Shellie McCall then lifted a fly ball that left fielder Aryn MacDonald dropped. MacDonald’s error allowed Sekel to score and McCall to take second.

“We weren’t the Hawks early,” Cary Crouch, Laguna Hills coach, said. “We were tentative during the pregame drills and for the first three innings. We were real tentative out there, both offensively and defensively.”

The Hawks, who managed only two singles in the first three innings, finally got to Pucci (17-1) for a run in the fourth. Melendrez led off by lining a triple over the head of Corona left fielder Angel Short. Shelley Carey then flied to Short to score Melendrez.

Carolyn Langfield led off the Laguna Hills fifth with a walk. After she was sacrificed to second by Kelly Besser, Langfield advanced to third on MacDonald’s infield out.

Lori Sommers then hit what appeared to be an inning-ending grounder to shortstop McCall, who fell down trying to field the ball. Langfield scored on the error.

After Melendrez retired Corona in order in the sixth, Leah Miller led off the Hawk half of the inning with a walk and was forced at second by Melendrez. Carey singled and when center fielder Sekel mishandled the hit, Melendrez took third and Carey second.

Pucci, who allowed only five hits, threw a bouncing pitch that catcher Francine Watson wasn’t able to handle. Melendrez scored and Carey moved to third.

Erika Schlitz then lined a single to left to score Carey for the Hawks’ fourth run.

“Pucci’s a good pitcher, but she doesn’t throw the ball as fast as some of those we’ve seen like (Woodbridge’s Tiffany) Boyd and (Trabuco Hills’ Marta) Bickert,” Crouch said. “Once we started hitting the ball the way we can, I knew we were in very good shape.”

Melendrez, who didn’t allow a hit after the fourth, retired the last 10 batters in a row. And Melendrez is 9 for 14 hitting in the playoffs.

“We knew that (Melendrez) was a junk pitcher, and we practiced against hitting junk the day before the game,” Jo Ann Byrd, Corona coach, said. “We tried to adjust, but she had a quick fastball, too, and she was able to keep us off balance.”

Said Crouch: “Margo threw nothing but strikes out there. She kept her cool out there when things got tough early, and she refused to beat herself.”