Beckman inches closer to PCL softball title with victory over Woodbridge

Beckman’s Brooke Horton waits for a pitch in Wednesday’s game vs. Woodbridge. The Warriors catcher is Anna Jensen. (Photos: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

Beckman High School’s softball team rolled up five runs in the third inning and went on to defeat Woodbridge 7-4 in a Pacific Coast League showdown Wednesday afternoon at Deanna Manning Stadium.

The two teams came into the game tied for first place with 8-0 records. Beckman (19-5, 9-0) is now alone in the top spot and Woodbridge drops into second place. If the other games end up as expected during the week, Beckman (17-6, 9-0) can clinch the outright title with a win in the second game between the two teams Wednesday at Beckman.

Woodbridge (14-11, 8-1) could share the title with a win Wednesday.

“As we say in the softball world, ‘one game at a time,'” said Beckman Coach Lou Simon. “It was definitely a great team win with contributions from every player. It’s such a mixed grouped with youngsters and some veterans and that’s what you want, you want good competition and today was that.

“We know the quality of Woodbridge and it’s always a competitive environment and it was fun to see from both sides.”

To see more photos, click on the first picture:

Beckman scored two runs in the top of the first inninng. Sarah Mikami had a sacrifice fly and Diya Malik had an RBI single.

But Woodbridge countered with two runs in the bottom of the first inning. Audrey Song singled and stole second and scored on an RBI single by Breanna Izzo. Anna Jensen then had an RBI single to tie the game.

The Warriors scored two more runs in the second on an RBI double Peyton Harris and and RBI single by Anna Kim to take a 4-2 lead.

But Beckman scored five runs in the third inning off Izzo, the Warriors starter, to move ahead 7-4. Brooke Horton drove in two runs with a double, Raneem Kardiya had an RBI single and Jasmyn Yessian had an RBI double in the inning.

Mikami, who came on to pitch in the second inning, shut down the Warriors the rest of the way to earn the victory.

“It was a tough loss, but I found no reason for the girls to hang their heads low,” said Woodbridge Coach Kim Wojciechowski. “They played a great game, offense was the difference. They battled really hard and they did what they could.”

Woodbridge had runners on second and third in the sixth inning, but Mirakami battled out of trouble.

“She came on in relief and just controlled the game, one pitch at a time and she did a good job,” Simon said.

Malik was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI, Horton was 3 for 3 with a run scored and an RBI and Kerdiya was 2 for 3 with an RBI.

Harris was 2 for 4 with an RBI, two stolen bases and a run scored, Song 2 for 4 with two runs scored and Izzo was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI to lead Woodbridge offensively.

Both teams are headed to the CIF playoffs.

—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com