Auelua’s Homer Keys Pacifica Victory

Pacifica’s Toria Auelua just wanted to get on base. Canyon’s Lindsey Klabacha just wanted to get through the first inning. The two wills collided Tuesday, and Auelua’s fifth home run provided a second-round victory for the top-seeded Mariners.

Auelua’s two-out line drive over the left field fence sparked a four-run outburst that gave Pacifica a Southern Section Division III victory over the Comanches, 4-0, at Canyon High.

It sent Pacifica (21-8), the two-time defending section champion, into Thursday’s quarterfinal against Corona Santiago, a 6-3 winner over Moreno Valley Rancho Verde.

Canyon, which had won seven of its last eight games, ended 14-14.

“I thought we had a chance to upset them,” Canyon Coach Lance Eddy said. “Pacifica had an easy first-round game [winning 11-2], and we’ve been playing under pressure since losing our first three league games. I felt [Jessica] Soto was a pitcher we could hit.”

Soto (20-7), a senior, gave up only two infield hits; only once, a leadoff fly to right field, did a ball reach the outfield.

“This means a lot to me,” said Soto, who lowered her earned-run average to 0.50 with a six-strikeout, three-walk performance. “I’ve been waiting a long time following Amanda [Freed, two-time Times Orange County player of the year], to step up and try to do my best.”

Though facing a team that Eddy said scared his players “though they won’t admit it,” Klabacha (12-7), a freshman, retired the first two batters. Then she threw a rise ball low in the strike zone, and Auelua made the Comanches pay.

“After she got two outs, she got a little confidence, and then Toria hit a rise ball that didn’t rise,” Pacifica Coach Rob Weil said. “You could see [Klabacha] panic a little.”

Nicole Pickett walked, and then Mallorie Lenn doubled to left center field to drive in Pickett. Tiffany Wallace singled to center, scoring Lenn on a collision at home plate. A ground ball to third base was booted, enabling Wallace to score from third base.

In other Division III games:

Brea Olinda 7, Palm Desert 4--Down by three, the Wildcats (20-7-1) scored seven runs in the top of the sixth inning. Tiffany Whitton had two hits, a double and two RBIs, and Kelly Nakagawa and Joanna Bostick had singles and RBIs. Brea will play Santa Margarita.

Santa Margarita 3, La Verne Bonita 2--Carolyn Bullard led off the seventh inning with a bunt single and scored on a throwing error on Nicole Bartholomew’s bunt single. Bartholomew (12-8) struck out eight for the host Eagles (17-11). Bonita finished 19-9.

Sonora 5, Redondo Beach Redondo Union 1--Senior Jennifer Link had four hits and five stolen bases to eclipse her single-season school records. Link (47 hits, 27 stolen bases) had 43 hits and 22 steals as a sophomore. She scored twice, as Sonora (23-7) advanced to play third-seeded La Puente Bishop Amat (22-7).

Valencia 2, Calabasas 1 (11)--Kim Miller singled with two outs, stole second and scored on Annie Dedic’s single to lift Valencia (20-11), which plays Newbury Park, a 3-1 winner over Goleta Dos Pueblos. Michelle Whiteman (16-8) struck out 14.