Waldecker’s Hit Puts Pacifica in Title Game

The ball, Jamie Waldecker said, “looked like a watermelon.”

So Waldecker made like the comedian, Gallagher, and smashed it. Her three-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Pacifica its 10th consecutive victory, a 3-0 win over Villa Park in a semifinal of the Michelle Carew Classic.

Pacifica will play the host school, Canyon, on May 5 in the title game.

Canyon reached the championship by beating Valencia in a quarterfinal and Downey in a semifinal, both by 2-0 scores.

Waldecker’s big hit made a winner of Kasey Carter, who gave up only four hits, walked one and struck out one in what developed as a pitching duel with Kindal Kincaid.

Villa Park (7-8) reached the semifinal by defeating El Dorado, 4-3, with four unearned runs in the fourth inning.

Kincaid (7-8) gave up seven hits, three in the decisive sixth inning. Jodie Legaspi and Jennifer Orpitelli singled and Mallorie Lenn walked. Waldecker came up with two outs, and with a count of two balls, one strike, Pacifica Coach Rob Weil called time out to talk.

“He said, ‘Focus, and hit your pitch,’ ” Waldecker said. “It was a changeup. Usually, I don’t hit changeups. They aren’t my pitch.”

Waldecker knocked the next pitch she saw to left-center field, and all three runners scored easily.

This wasn’t the first big hit this season for Waldecker, a sophomore designated hitter. In the Foothill Invitational two weeks ago, her two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed Pacifica to come back for a 10-inning victory over Los Alamitos. She also had a single and drove in a run in the quarterfinal game Tuesday against sixth-ranked Rosary, a 5-0 victory.

Waldecker, Orpitelli and Legaspi had two hits apiece.

Pacifica also came up big in the field.

In the first inning, center fielder Jessica Marical saved Carter’s shutout with her diving backhanded catch on a drive by Sheri Donley. The play kept Kristen Klugman, who had singled with one out, at first base.

Jessica Simon followed with a single and stole second base. Carter intentionally walked Jillian Sandoval, and Kincaid was thrown out on a play by second baseman Legaspi.

In the third inning, left fielder Amber Gaines threw out Chanel Edwards at home plate.

“We’ve been playing solid defense and executing very well,” Weil said. “Every night, it’s a different kid.”

In the other semifinal:

Canyon 2, Downey 0--Lisa Geer improved to 8-1, allowing two hits and striking out seven. Jessica Runge got her 11th save, striking out six batters in two innings.

In Canyon’s 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Valencia, Megan Welch figured in both runs for the Comanches, leading off the second inning with a triple and scoring on a wild pitch, then singling home a run in the sixth. Runge struck out six batters in three innings of relief.

In a consolation game:

Valencia 2, Elsinore 1--Michelle Whiteman had a decisive two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning, then took the mound to earn her first save of the season.

Esperanza 2, Norco 2 (12 innings)--Norco will go to the consolation championship by mutual agreement.

In a nonleague game:

Calvary Chapel 11, St. Margaret’s 1 (6, mercy)--Stephanie Williams pitched a three-hitter and struck out 10 for host Calvary Chapel (11-7). She also had a two-run home run..