Oilers take AG tourney crown

The Huntington Beach High softball team was up north last weekend for the Arroyo Grande Softball by the Beach Tournament and the Oilers dominated the competition to win the crown.

Huntington went 4-0 and outscored the opposition, 42-6, and secured its first title at the tournament by routing Fresno Buchanan, 10-1, Saturday.

Alyssa Horeczko threw a complete-game three-hitter in the final against a Buchanan team that had won 16 of its first 19 games. Allee Bunker had two hits and drove in four RBIs and Chance Burden and Kelli Kufta had two RBIs apiece.

The Oilers scored six runs in the sixth inning to ease their way to the nine-run win that sent them to 11-1 overall.

“I was very proud on how we mentally took the challenge of each game this weekend,” Huntington Coach Jeff Forsberg said. “We have competed in this event over the years and this is the first time that we won it. The best part was everyone on the roster contributed to the success on the field.

“Beating Moorpark and Buchanan, both great softball programs, was a testimony of the fight, determination and leadership we had all week. We enjoy the spring break time as its bonds the teams off the field and results showed on the field. This is a fun roster of girls to be with and to be a part of their season and accomplishments. We have some challenges ahead but will enjoy this last week.”

In four games, Bunker hit .615 and had 11 RBIs and was named tournament MVP. Also making the all-tournament team was Burden, Anna Kufta and Ivy Davis. Burden had a momentum-swinging two-run triple in a semifinal win over Moorpark, and a two-run triple in the title game. Kufta hit .364 for the tournament and was stellar defensively behind the plate. Davis hit .444, pitched seven innings and picked up two wins.

In receiving contributions from throughout the lineup, Kelli Kufta batted .600 with a home run, Jadelyn Allchin hit .556 avg. with a home run, Gabi Hirsh hit .600, and Kendal Henscheid threw a one-hitter in a pool-play win Friday over Nipomo.

Next up for the Oilers is an opening matchup Thursday against Agoura at the Michelle Carew Classic. They’ll take on the Chargers at 3 p.m. at Peralta Park in Anaheim Hills

The 32-team tournament continues Friday and concludes Saturday with the championship game at 7:30 p.m. at Peralta Park.

•At the Alan Dugard Woodbridge Classic Saturday at Bill Barber Park in Irvine, Edison edged Sunset League rival Marina, 3-2, and Fountain Valley defeated Woodbridge, 5-1.

Danielle Votendahl had a double and two RBIs, Rachel Abboud drove in a run, Riley Wester went three for four, and Kiana Pancino recorded the pitching win for Edison which upped its overall record to 8-4.

The Chargers went 3-2 in the tournament and posted previous wins over Rolling Hills Estates Peninsula and Long Beach Millikan. Their losses were to El Modena and Sunset League rival Fountain Valley (3-1).

“Not our best overall performance, but we finished strong which is what we needed to do to head into league,” Edison Coach Kim Ensey said.

Sage Malvin went three for four with two RBIs and a run scored and Julia Carreron two for three with a run scored for Marina (6-10 overall) in the loss to Edison.

Marina started the tournament with a 2-1 win over Irvine. The Vikings went 2-3 at the event, two of their losses one-run defeats, and their other win was a 7-5 victory over Northwood.

“We played some very good teams in this tournament and I was happy to see the girls come out and play hard against one of the top programs in the [CIF] Southern Section,” Marina Coach Mandee Farish said. “As a team, we have been working diligently to become more cohesive and play together, instead of as individuals. We gave up less runs this entire tournament than we have all preseason and we played better softball as a whole. It’s exciting to see the growth and development in these young ladies, on and off the field.”

•Brethren Christian scored six runs in the top of the seventh Tuesday and used the late spurt to produce an 8-3 victory over Anaheim Connelly. Junior Katelynn Jaminez provided the Warriors with a key hit, a base-clearing double, in the inning. Jaminez also pitched a complete game and took the win.

Freshman Gabby Pacada went two for two with a double and RBI, junior Samantha Kobel singled twice, and sophomore Effie Hill went two for three with a double and two RBIs for BC. In the field, junior third baseman Ashley Cashman had six assists and Hill, from her position in center field, threw a runner out at the plate.

BC will host the Koalas in a rematch at 3:15 p.m. Thursday at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.

—

CIF Weekly Rankings (released Monday)

Ocean View (No. 5, Division 4).