Beckman softball team wins a slugfest over Woodbridge to capture PCL title outright

Beckman’s winning pitcher Sarah Mikami delivers a pitch to Peyton Harris of Woodbridge. (Photo: OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

Beckman High School’s softball team had already clinched a share of the Pacific Coast League title.

Wednesday afternoon, the Patriots assured the outright crown defeating second place Woodbridge 10-5 in a slugfest at Lower Peters Canyon Park.

There were five home runs, three by Beckman (20-6, 12-0) and two by Woodbridge which was trying to win a share of the crown with a victory.

“It’s the third (title) in a row, we will take it,” said Beckman Coach Lou Simon. “It shows the fighting spirit of this team. The coaching staff is in the background but at the end of the day, they’re in the front lines. There were leaders, the seniors stepped up. It was senior day, how appropriate is that. It was great for the freshmen and sophomores to see and be a part of this.

“This one is for them. They’re going to enjoy these moments. I think the big key is that it’s one thing to play a sport, but it’s the thing that goes on in between, the hard work and determination and the mindset. We could have lost this game and it wouldn’t have changed my attitude.”

Woodbridge (15-10, 12-2) scored three runs in the fifth inning, two on a two-run home run by Anna Jensen, to take a 5-4 lead. But Beckman responded with six runs in the bottom of the fifth, two coming on a home run by Jasmyn Yessian, to move ahead 10-5.

“Those are the never quitting attitudes,” Simon said.

Then Sarah Mikami, who came on to pitch in relief of starter Jiya Dutta in the fourth inning, shut down the Warriors in the final two innings to record the victory.

Mikami also hit a two-run homer in the first inning. Raneem Kerdiya blasted a solo home run in the second inning for Beckman.

Bianca Vasquez also hit a pinch-hit homer for Woodbridge in the fourth inning to cut Beckman’s lead to 4-2.

Mikami led Beckman’s offense, going 2 for 3 with three runs scored and two RBI. Second baseman Brooke Horton was 2 for 4 with a run scored and two RBI.

Breanna Izzo, who came on to pitch in the fourth inning, led Woodbridge offensively, going 2 for 3 with an RBI. Leadoff hitter Audrey Sona was 2 for 4 with a run scored for the Warriors.

Beckman won the first contest between the two teams, 7-4, last week at Deanna Manning Stadium.

Both teams are headed to the CIF playoffs next week.

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