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    Capistrano Valley, Fullerton, Foothill, Irvine advance to CIF-SS softball finals
    • May 14, 2023

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    Capistrano Valley’s softball team is headed to the CIF-SS finals for the first time since 1979.

    The Cougars overcame a fast start by Kennedy to roll to a 14-4 victory in the Division 3 semifinals at Capistrano Valley High on Saturday.

    Kennedy (19-10) scored three runs in the first inning before the Cougars (24-6) seized control.

    Siena Stickney sparked the Sea View League runner-up in the third inning with a three-run double with the bases loaded. The senior finished 3 for 4.

    Amaya Bixler followed in the third by belting a go-ahead, three-run home run to cap a six-run outburst. The junior finished 2 for 3 with four RBIs.

    Sophomore Samantha Kelly added two hits and three RBIs for the Cougars.

    Madi McDonnell handled the pitching duties, firing a complete game with three strikeouts. Kennedy had 11 hits.

    Capistrano Valley, led by first-year coach Melissa Roth, will play Santiago of Corona in the championship on May 19 or 20 at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

    Santiago edged El Toro 5-4 in the other semifinal on Saturday.

    In 1979, Capistrano Valley lost to Mayfair 3-2 in the Division 2-A final. Santiago Corona is a five-time section champion.

    In other semifinals:

    In Division 2:

    Grand Terrace 10, Tesoro 3: Sophomore Summer Sanderson hit a two-out, two-run home run to help spark a late surge by visiting Grand Terrace (23-5), which scored eight runs in the finals three innings.

    Grand Terrace plays Great Oak in the final.

    Fullerton’s softball team defeated visiting Burroughs of Burbank 8-1 in the CIF-SS Division 4 semifinals on Saturday to reach the finals against Foothill. (Photo courtesy of Fullerton softball)

    In Division 4:

    Fullerton 8, Burroughs of Burbank 1: Freshman Malaya Majam-Finch fired a one-hitter with seven strikeouts and freshman Melia Vera and senior Hailee Nelson combined to drive in seven runs to lead the host Indians (23-6) to their first section final since 2006.

    Fullerton will play Foothill in the final May 19 or 20. The Knights beat Santa Fe 4-0 in the other semifinal Saturday.

    In Division 5:

    Irvine 5, Santa Paula 4: Reese Villanueva went 4 for 4, including a go-ahead, two-run single with two outs in the sixth, as the top-seeded Vaqueros (21-10) rallied past the visiting Cardinal to reach their first section final since 1993.

    Santa Paula led 4-1 in the sixth before Irvine scored four times in the bottom of the inning.

    The Vaqueros will play Liberty of Winchester in the finals May 19 or 20. Liberty beat Northwood 6-3 in the other semifinal.

    More results to come. Please check back.  

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    ​ Orange County Register 

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