Bartholomew’s Return a Winning One for Eagles at Woodbridge Classic

Nicole Bartholomew experienced a flurry of emotions at the Woodbridge Classic softball tournament on Monday.

Starting for the first time since her grandfather, Ralph Bartholomew, died last week, she struggled early, then retired the final 16 batters as Santa Margarita beat the host Warriors, 5-2, in the quarterfinals at Barber Park in Irvine.

“She asked to get on the mound because she thought it would be good for her,” said Bud Clark, Santa Margarita’s coach.

It was good for Bartholomew, and good for the Eagles (15-4), who beat Woodbridge for the first time behind Bartholomew’s three-hitter.

“My whole family came to watch me play,” said Bartholomew, a senior who has signed with Providence. “Grandpa never got to see me play, and Grandma [Pat Bartholomew] got to see me play for the first time because they lived in Oklahoma.

“I warmed up so well, and then the butterflies got to me.”

Bartholomew (10-0) allowed three hits and two walks in the first two innings. Woodbridge took a 2-1 lead on Shauna Corso’s two-run, two-out double in the second, but she was the last runner for the Warriors (11-11).

“[Bartholomew] kept her composure pretty well,” said Woodbridge’s Kayla Creamer, who singled and scored in the second inning. “She was real impressive.”

Brittany Mynsburge and Lexie Green had RBIs in the fourth inning to give the Eagles a 3-2 lead.

Garland Cooper singled twice in a nine-hit attack and scored a run for the Eagles. Alycia Fitzpatrick also had an RBI.

In other tournament games:

No. 3 Fountain Valley 3, Aliso Niguel 0--Nicole LaPier (9-0) pitched a three-hitter, striking out four for the Barons (17-5), who scored two in the third and one in the sixth. Jessica Skaare (6-5) took the loss for Aliso Niguel (9-9).

No. 4 Pacifica 10, Dana Hills 6 (8 innings)--Mallorie Lenn, who also tripled, hit a grand slam as the Mariners (13-3) rallied for five eighth-inning runs. Kasey Carter (5-2) won, and Candice Rainwater (7-5) took the loss for Dana Hills (10-7).

No. 5 Kennedy 2, No. 8 Capistrano Valley 0--Michelle Turner pitched a one-hitter and struck out 12 for the Fighting Irish (12-5). Turner (8-1) has struck out 37, and allowed only four hits, in 28 innings since returning from an illness that kept her from pitching for two weeks. Turner had only five pitches called balls against the Cougars. Allison Hall got the only hit for Capistrano Valley (14-5), and after an error, Turner retired the final 21 batters.

Brooke Weekley (11-4) allowed only three hits but took the loss for Capistrano Valley.

No. 9 El Toro 4, Marina 3--Bryttani Lindheim got a game-winning RBI double in the seventh inning as Jennifer Churchill (7-0) won for the Chargers (15-6). Marina is 10-8.

Loara 7, Bellflower 0--Katie Joosten and Alicia Owen combined on a perfect game for the Saxons (17-5). Joosten (11-3) struck out five in four innings, and Owen and Lauren Lappin each had two hits and three RBIs. Bellflower is 5-10.

Mission Viejo 3, San Clemente 0--Heather Durham was three for three and Kristen Lopez scattered five hits for the Diablos (3-12). San Clemente is 4-11.

Huntington Beach 8, Canoga Park Faith Baptist 2 (6, time)--Ashley Perkins pitched a six-hitter for the Oilers (10-11).

La Habra 4, Palos Verdes Peninsula 0--Amber Turner (5-6) scattered five hits and Erin Murray had a run-scoring triple for the Highlanders (7-10).

Lakewood 3, Trabuco Hills 0--Nicole Barrett gave up three runs on four hits for the Mustangs (9-10).

Villa Park 7, Corona del Mar 4--Leslie Green hit a three-run homer for the Spartans (9-9).

In the Fullerton tournament championship:

Sonora 2, Cerritos Gahr 0--Carrie Wisen struck out eight and doubled home a run for the Raiders (10-6).

In the Santa Maria Righetti tournament:

Foothill 5, Atascadero 1--Caitlin Lowe and Courtney Fossatti each had two hits and a stolen base for Foothill (17-1), the No. 1 team in Orange County.