A Nerve-Rattling Victory for Pacifica

Pacifica Coach Rob Weil reminded his team all week that it was a three-time Southern Section softball champion going for an unprecedented fourth consecutive title.

Despite Weil’s attempts to inspire his team, the Mariners struggled Friday before beating visiting El Dorado, 3-1, in a Division III first-round game.

Pacifica (21-8-1) will face El Modena, a 2-0 winner over Menifee Paloma Valley, on Tuesday. El Dorado finished 13-12-1.

“We didn’t play as well as I thought we could play,” Weil said, “but we have a lot of sophomores that haven’t been in [playoff] competition and I think they felt the pressure.”

They admitted as much.

“I was nervous all day,” said sophomore Jessica Marical (14-1), who gave up one hit in 6 1/3 innings, but walked six and hit another before giving way to Kasey Carter in the seventh inning with a runner on first base and a three-ball count on the No. 8 hitter. “It kept building.”

“It was very nerve-racking,” said third baseman Mallorie Lenn, whose single capped a three-run fifth-inning for the Mariners.

Pacifica made the most of its few chances. El Dorado sophomore pitcher Kristen Karanzias (12-9) retired the first 11 batters, but the Mariners took advantage of one walk, two errors and three hits in the fifth inning.

Marical, who singled, scored on a throwing error by center fielder Kerri Cavish after Jodie Legaspi singled. Melissa Key scored on Diana Barreras’ two-strike squeeze bunt, and Legaspi scored on Lenn’s second single.

Barreras was Pacifica’s only player who started both Friday and last year’s title game. The Mariners, who had four hits, started five sophomores and a freshman.

“The value [of winning this game] is huge,” Weil said. “Now they know that every game is going to be a dogfight, they know what to expect.”

Marical struggled from the outset. El Dorado had five baserunners by the time Heather McVay singled in the fourth inning, loading the bases. Then Marical hit Rashelle Pacourek in the foot, and Pacifica trailed, 1-0, and was in danger of suffering a major first-round embarrassment.

“We had it right there,” said El Dorado Coach Jill Matyuch, whose lineup included four sophomores and two freshmen. “But that’s what good teams do. Good teams are never out of it. They come back and put pressure on you and make you make mistakes.”

In other Division III games:

Cypress 4, Santiago 1--Candice Baker pitched a one-hitter and struck out 11, and Amber Lane, Andrea Brown and Jackie Lesher had RBI singles. Cypress (14-11) will play Laguna Hills. Santiago finished 13-12.

El Modena 2, Paloma Valley 0--Noelle Dixon had an RBI grounder in the bottom of the sixth inning, and Lindsay Klein followed with a run-scoring sacrifice fly for host El Modena (20-8-1). Paloma Valley finished 13-11.

Laguna Hills 3, Brea Olinda 0--Freshman Brittany Fait pitched a five-hitter, with no walks, for host Laguna Hills (19-9). Erica Corley had two hits and scored the first two runs, on a single by Dominique Lastrapes in the third inning and a Brea error in the fifth.

Sonora 4, Temescal Canyon 0--Dawn Ramynke hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning for No. 2 Sonora (23-7). Andee Lindgren (11-4) got the win with 19 ground-ball outs, a strikeout and fly ball. The Raiders will play Covina Charter Oak, which defeated Newbury Park, 1-0.

Tustin 4, Santa Margarita 1--Diana La Riva pitched a three-hitter, had 13 strikeouts, and had a run-scoring single in a four-run third inning for visiting Tustin (14-11-1), which will play Rosemead. Santa Margarita finished 16-13.

Valencia 4, South Torrance 0--Michelle Whiteman threw a no-hitter, striking out 14 for Valencia (15-13). An error prevented Whiteman from getting a perfect game. Krystal Zavala had two hits and two RBIs, and Marissa Trevino drove in a run to give Valencia a 1-0 lead in the third.

Hacienda Heights Wilson 1, Villa Park 0 (9 innings)--Kindal Kincaid pitched a three-hitter for Villa Park (13-14-1), but hopes of upsetting the top-seeded Wildcats (24-2-1) unraveled in the ninth on a single and two errors.