Timely Hit Boosts Upland Past Brea in 16

Upland’s Kim Schultze got only one hit Tuesday, but it came at exactly the right time.

In the top of the 16th inning with two outs, Schultze knocked in the winning run, giving Upland a 1-0 victory over Brea Olinda in the Southern Section Division III softball semifinals at Tamarack Park.

The victory put the top-seeded Highlanders (26-4) in Saturday’s final where they will be trying to repeat as section champion.

It took more than three hours before Upland finally broke through. Schultze singled in the winning run on a grounder through the gap between first and second, scoring Christy Sears. Sears reached first on a fielder’s choice, advanced to second on a error by shortstop Gretchen Thompson and moved to third on a groundout by Sarah Farnworth.

“It was a great ball game,” said Upland Coach Ed Ulloa. “When you get this far, you just appreciated the type of ball they play. It’s quality ball at this point, because the best teams always meet. All it takes is one run.”

Farnworth (25-4), a junior pitcher, went the distance to run her scoreless-inning streak to 77. She gave up five hits, striking out 15, including the final out of the game when she caught Wildcat pitcher Geney Orris looking.

Brea Olinda (21-8), playing in the semifinals for the first time, also had several chances to put the game away. The Wildcats loaded the bases in the ninth, but Ashley Case was forced out at home and Thompson at third to close out the inning. Another opportunity was lost in the 13th with runners on first and second and two outs, Thompson drilled a shot to left field that was rundown by Jamie Caufield for the final out.

Orris (12-5) gave up 12 hits, striking out 10 and walking three. But as the game dragged on Orris, who gave up only six hits through 12 innings, began to show signs of fatigue. In the final four innings she gave up six hits, putting runners on base in each inning.