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Home run ignites big inning that carries JSerra softball past Aliso Niguel

March 18, 2026

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — The JSerra softball team was waiting all game for a big hit to ignite its offense and it got one in the sixth inning.

With the score tied at one, Zena Edwards hit a two-run home run. That sparked a seven-run rally as JSerra defeated Aliso Niguel 8-2 in a nonleague game Tuesday at JSerra High.

The home run was the third of the season for Edwards, who hit a double earlier in the game.

“We needed a big hit in that moment so I was really grateful that Brooklyn (Lamb) got a double right before me and I could go in the box being calm,” Edwards said. “I just tried to be calm and it turned out well.”

JSerra (12-1), ranked No. 1 in Orange County, had six hits in the sixth inning and batted around.

After the home run, the Lions loaded the bases with a hit batter and two consecutive singles. Ava Born drove in a run with a single and Annabel Raftery drew a bases-loaded walk to extend the lead to 5-1.

Leah Arrey hit a sacrifice fly and Magenta De Arte hit a two-run double to make the score 8-1 heading into the seventh.

“The kids weren’t overwhelmed when we were in the 1-1 game. They didn’t start pressing or playing tight,” JSerra coach Katie Stith said. “They just kind of kept chipping away and trusted that our bats could do it. As a coach, that’s what you want to see.”

The run support was plenty for junior Abby Ford, who is a Washington commit. Ford pitched a complete game, allowed just one earned run on four hits with nine strikeouts.

It was just her second start of the season. Ford has a 1.18 ERA in 23⅔ innings with 33 strikeouts.

JSerra's Abby Ford allowed one earned run as she pitched complete game with nine strikeouts in the Lions' 8-2 win over Aliso Niguel on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Photo by Michael Huntley) — JSerra’s Abby Ford allowed one earned run as she pitched complete game with nine strikeouts in the Lions’ 8-2 win over Aliso Niguel on Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (Photo by Michael Huntley)

“I was very calm,” Ford said. “I don’t think that was my best but I really think that my teammates energized me and pushed me.”

“Abby has a lot of dimension to what she does and her changeup was on today,” Stith said of Ford. “That was probably the most effective piece for her was keeping them off-balanced. We know that Aliso can swing it but we have a quality pitching staff.”

Aliso Niguel (6-9), which is ranked No. 13 in Orange County, was coming off an upset win last week over Pacifica 9-1. Pacifica is ranked No. 3 in the Orange County Top 25.

JSerra scored its first run via some shifty baserunning in the first inning. With runners on first and third, the runner on first attempted to steal second base and stopped midway through the basepath to draw a throw to second base.

The runner stalled long enough for Anneke Lukowski to steal home and give the Lions a 1-0 lead.

Aliso Niguel tied the game in the fifth inning by taking advantage of some defensive miscues by JSerra. Hailey Okuma reached second base on a throwing error to lead off the inning. Sloan Lorenzo bunted and drew another throwing error, which allowed Okuma to score.

Freshman Macie Romano had two hits for the Wolverines including a double in the second inning. Kelsey Gaschen and Okuma singled in the seventh inning and a run scored on a sacrifice fly from Lorenzo.

JSerra will play in the Woodbridge tournament this weekend and opens against Edison on Saturday morning.

“We’re in a good spot,” Stith said. “Historically the best team we’ve ever had. We had never started 5-0 until this season. And since then it continues to get bigger and bigger, just because we haven’t done it. But at the same time, they’re acting like they’ve done this before. When you play at a high level, that’s what you want. You want them to expect to be able to compete with anybody.”

Aliso Niguel hosts El Toro in a nonleague game Thursday.

Home run ignites big inning that carries JSerra softball past Aliso Niguel Orange County Register

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Home run ignites big inning that carries JSerra softball past Aliso Niguel

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