Dos Pueblos softball clinched at least a share of the Channel League title with a 1-0 victory over Oxnard on Friday at Okinaka Field in Goleta.
The Chargers (18-5, 10-1 Channel League) will now clash with Rio Mesa for their final league contest on Monday with a chance to secure the outright league championship.
Emily Morici shined once again in the circle for Dos Pueblos on Friday, allowing just three baserunners while striking out seven in seven shutout innings of work.
While Morici kept the Yellow Jackets off balance, the Chargers plated the lone run in the fourth when Julianna Brunner drove in Kacey Hurley with a single into right field.
“That was a great game. It’s what softball is all about,” Dos Pueblos head coach Mike Gerken said. “Two elite pitchers battling against each other. It always comes down to which team can get a couple of hits in the same inning. Today it was us, and we ended up with the victory.”
Hurley went 2-for-3 and was the lone Charger with a multi-hit performance, while Brooklyn Hedricks and Zella Cassidy each recorded hits as well.
“Kacey came to play today, both at the plate and in the box,” Gerken said. “She’s a three-sport star who is used to coming up big in big games. Juliana proved once again how clutch she can be. She’s not flashy, just efficient. I’ll take that any day.
“Chaya Blaney was brilliant in left today. Their slappers were adept at punching the ball just over short and third. She got great jumps and caught three sure hits just before they reached the ground. I don’t think we win without her efforts in the field.”
San Marcos 12, Foothill Tech 3
The Royals slugged their way to a non-league victory over Foothill Tech on Friday in Ventura.
San Marcos (14-11, 6-6 Channel League) will now anxiously await the result of a matchup between Ventura and Oxnard on Monday. If Oxnard wins, the Royals finish in fourth in the Channel League and earn an automatic playoff bid.
If Ventura comes out on top, San Marcos, Ventura and Oxnard would end in a three-way tie for third place and there would be a tiebreaker doubleheader on Wednesday.
As for Friday’s win, the Royals dropped four runs in the opening frame and were in control from there.
While the San Marcos offense scored in every inning of the game, Lucy Dessert and Caroline Wang combined to strike out 11 batters and hold Foothill Tech to just three runs.
Isa Malarkey led the offensive outburst by going 5-for-5 with three doubles, an RBI and three runs scored. Meanwhile, Piper Kittle went 2-for-5 with two RBI and three runs scored.
Reese Large tallied two hits, CeCe Contreras drove in a pair of runs and Solana Sandoval came around to score three times in the win.
“This being our bye week, we’ve had some time to recalibrate and rest going into today and (fingers crossed) playoffs. We did a better job at pushing runs across,” San Marcos head coach Emily Dietz said.