Telepeer

Marina softball tops No. 2 Esperanza in extra innings in Carew Classic

April 1, 2023

ANAHEIM — Freshman pitcher Mia Valbuena held her composure despite seeing the Marina softball team leave 12 runners on base.

It eventually took eight innings, but the Vikings beat Esperanza 6-3 in the opening round of the Michelle Carew Classic on Friday afternoon.

Esperanza (14-3) is ranked No. 2 in Orange County and Marina (16-1) is ranked No. 6.

“We let Mia be Mia,” Marina co-coach Dan Hay said of the team’s freshman standout, who pitched all eight innings and allowed two earned runs on four hits. “She is good enough to pitch out of jams. She does her job, as long as her defense has her back, she will be successful. For a freshman, she is pretty stoic. She just stays on task and does what she needs to do.”

Marina, ranked No. 1 in CIF-SS Division 2, also defeated Murrieta Mesa 6-1 in a second-round game Friday night.

The Vikings will play St. Francis, the No. 1 team in the Bay Area, in the semifinals of the Gold Bracket on Saturday at 3:15 p.m. at Peralta Park in Anaheim.

Against Esperanza, Marina left five runners on base in the first three innings, and the Aztecs scored first thanks to a two-run single by Calista Van Artsdalen in the bottom of the third.

Marina left two more runners on base in the fourth inning.

“It happens,” Valbuena said of the runners left on base. “Not everyone is going to get a hit, but you just have to pick up your team.”

The Vikings finally broke through with Anaya Togia’s double to center field that sent Makayla Mathis home.

Marina’s Makayla Mathis went 4 for 5 and scored her team’s first run in a 6-3 victory over Esperanza in the first round of the Michelle Carew Classic on Friday, March 31, 2023. (Photo by Manny Alvarez)

Togia also scored on the play as a throw to second base ricocheted off Togia’s foot and went into left field, and she came around to tie the score 2-2.

Marina took a 3-2 lead in the sixth inning on a throw that went past the third baseman, allowing Courtney Hames to score.

Esperanza tied the score in the bottom of the seventh inning. After a double by pinch-hitter Erin Bigani, pinch runner Dani Vegar scored on a ground out by Charley Duran.

Marina took the lead in the eighth inning on a play that initially drew a strong reaction from Esperanza coach Ed Tunstall.

On a ground ball hit to third base by Hallie Piramo, Marina’s Averie Prescott was caught in a rundown between third and home. Prescott was tagged out, but the umpires called obstruction on Esperanza, awarding Prescott to score the go-ahead run.

“It was the umpires call,” Tunstall said. “I didn’t see it that way, but that’s why he’s an umpire and I’m the coach. I didn’t see an obstruction. I saw the runner go back to third base, she was not trying to advance home. Umpire saw otherwise.”

The Vikings added a pair of runs in the inning thanks to RBI singles from Gabby DiBenedetto and Rachel Ruiz.

Valbuena finished the game to earn the victory for the Vikings.

Mathis went 4 for 5 at the plate for Marina.

“We kept saying that we’re going to get this, we’re on them,” Mathis said. “We had to get the runs in. We kept leaving runners in scoring position. We finally just said we’re going to get this done and we got it. We finally just clicked and jumped on them.”

Duran threw 2 2/3 innings of relief for Esperanza.

Orange County Register

News Details

Marina softball tops No. 2 Esperanza in extra innings in Carew Classic

News

CONTACT INFO

QUICK LINKS

SERVICES

CURRENT NEWS