Northwood rallies for win against Covina and earns trip to CIF semifinals

Northwood players celebrate after Thursday’s win over Covina. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Northwood High School’s softball team battled back from an early three-run deficit to defeat Covina 6-5 in the quarterfinal round of the CIF Division 5 playoffs Thursday at Northwood.

A big turnout at Northwood watched the second-seeded Timberwolves (14-7) score four runs in a wild third inning to take the lead. Northwood moves into the semfiinals Saturday at home against third seeded Liberty (19-3-1) at 1 p.m.

Junior pitcher Riley Bajorek went the distance to record her third win this week striking out seven to get the win for the Timberwolves.

“I’m just really proud of them at this point,” said Northwood Coach Maddy Grimm. “They rally together, all parts of our lineup are contributing, defensively we look sharp, Riley looks great in the circle and Baylie (Wong) is calling a great game behind the plate.

“I think everyone is in a good spot and physically, mentally and emotionally, they’re all leaning into one another too. I tell them that on any given day any team can win. I’m happy and proud of them and looking forward to Saturday.”

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Covina used four hits and a walk to take a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

But Northwood chipped away at the lead with two runs in the second inning. Samantha Mella drove in one run on a sacrifice fly and Keetu Venkateswaren drove home the other on a groundout.

Then Northwood used three hits, an error, a hit batter and a wild pitch to score four runs in the third inning to move ahead 6-3. Natalie Keith had one RBI and Ava Giglio drove home another on a single. With Giglio up, two runs scored on a wild pitch.

“Offensively, we tend to put up a lot of runs,” Grimm said. “Throughout the season, they’ve prepared themselves for any kind of situation. We got a small roster, they all know what to do and I’m just letting them play.”

Covina (16-12) scored single runs in the fourth and sixth innings to cut the lead to one run. But Bajorek blanked Covina in the seventh. Leadoff hitter Samantha Centeno walked but Bajorek got the next batter to hit into a double play and recorded the third out on a groundout.

Leadoff hitter Janelle Valenzuela led Covina offensively with two hits and three runs scored.

Bajorek is expected to start Saturday’s semifinal.

“Riley has pitched every game of the season,” Grimm said. “She started every single game, she’s our workhorse.”

Northwood fans were also keeping an eye out on one of the other quarterfinal games. Irvine defeated Ocean View in the other side of the bracket. So if both Northwood and Irvine win Saturday, the two Pacific Coast League teams would meet in the finals either Friday, May 19 or Saturday, May 20 at Barber Park.

Irvine finished second and Northwood fourth in the PCL.

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