LC U14 squad gets second in Bernardo

For the third time this season, the La Cañada 14U Softball team lost the championship game of a weekend tournament. And, for the third time this season, the team lost the title game by just one run.

This time it was the Rancho Bernardo (San Diego) Grand Slam Summer Jam, where La Cañada won four consecutive games to set up a showdown with San Diego Clairemont.

In the championship game, Sumner Hanula singled in the first inning and went all the way to third on an error by the centerfielder. She then scored on an error to give La Cañada a 1-0 lead over San Diego Clairemont, a lead that held up until Clairemont tied the game in the sixth inning. La Cañada came back with one in the bottom of the sixth to go back up, 2-1, but Clairemont pushed across two in the top of the seventh and held on for the 3-2 victory.

La Cañada again shined in pool play, sweeping past Cypress, 11-4, Ontario, 5-3, and Clairemont, 6-5, to finish 3-0. In the semifinals, the team defeated Cypress, 6-4, setting up the rematch with Clairemont.

There was no shortage of stars for La Cañada. Selina Mohr pitched in every inning of the tournament — five games and 26 innings — allowing just 11 hits and striking out 29. Aubri Thompson caught every inning of every game, often laboring in temperatures that were well into the 90s.

Sumner led the La Cañada offense over the weekend, with seven hits in 12 at bats, scoring three runs and knocking in five. Jessica Ogden also shined offensively. She had six hits, scored six runs and had five runs batted in. Ashley Kim also had six hits and Aubri scored five times and knocked in three runs.

The team gets one more try for that elusive tournament title this weekend at the Regional Championships in San Diego.

— Submitted by David Fisher