COMMUNITY COLLEGE SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : OCC Shuts Out Riverside to Win Regional Title
Orange Coast completed its sweep through the Southern California Regional playoffs Saturday with a 7-0 victory over Riverside in the title game in Costa Mesa.
OCC had beaten Riverside, 2-0, earlier Saturday, then rested while the Tigers eliminated Chaffey, 3-0, in 16 innings.
Riverside appeared to have little energy left for the title game, but the way OCC was playing it really wouldn’t have made much difference, according to OCC Coach Nick Trani.
“I didn’t think it would have mattered if they had played one game or three,” Trani said. “Honestly, with the way we were playing, I didn’t think they had a chance to beat us.”
Trani’s confidence came from pitcher Alisha Nelson and OCC’s strong offense.
Nelson (23-6) pitched a three-hitter for her second shutout of the day, and her 16th of the season. She opened the regional Friday with a perfect game in a 7-0 victory over Rio Hondo.
OCC (33-9) had 11 hits, including three by Becky Toler and two each by Shannon Ebert and Kathy Shortall. Toler had a one-out single and Ebert doubled to the fence in right-center to drive her in and give OCC a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Sam Lutsch then singled to score Ebert.
Becky Elcock hit a two-run triple and Shortall had an RBI single in the third as OCC went ahead, 5-0. Toler had an RBI single and Elcock had a sacrifice fly for OCC in the fourth.
Orange Coast, which scored 16 runs and had 33 hits in the three playoff games, advances to the State tournament May 15-17 in Sacramento.
In other regional games:
Cypress 1, Moorpark 0 (11 innings)--Priscilla Sarmiento scored on a throwing error in the 11th inning for host Cypress (36-12). Sarmiento and Jackie Boxley reached on infield singles to start the inning. Nikkanni Andrews then hit a slow bouncer toward third and Moorpark’s Tausha Pico fielded it and threw wildly to first, allowing Sarmiento to score.
This is the fourth consecutive trip to the State tournament for Cypress and Coach Brad Pickler. Cindy Hover (11-3) pitched an eight-hitter for Cypress, the defending State champions.