Opening game of annual Orange County All-Star Softball Classic ends up in a tie

Some members of the South Coast League and Sunset League team before the game. (PHOTOS: Tom Connolly, For OC Sports Zone).

High school softball standouts from the North Hills and Crestview leagues battled to a 4-4 tie against the all-stars from the Sunset and South Coast leagues Wednesday evening at the 2026 Orange County Coaches All- Star Classic at Deanna Manning Stadium. 

The game, the first of two presented by Premier Girls Fastpitch, was declared a tie after six innings.

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With the game tied at 1-1 after four innings, NHC rallied for three runs in the top of the fifth inning.

Kylie Tafua (El Modena) reached base on an infield error and her Vanguard teammate Jocelyn Alatorre followed with a single to left center.

One out later, Alyssa Hernandez (La Habra) singled to left to load the bases. Maya Valenzuela (Canyon) then drilled a two-run single to right center, giving NHC a 3-1 lead. Elayna Marquez (Sunny Hills) upped the lead to 4-1 when she belted an RBI single to left field, scoring Hernandez. 

“My first at bat wasn’t so good, so I wanted to do something to help the team the next time up and it worked,” said Marquez. 

SCC pushed across two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to make it a one run game.

Marley Readman (San Clemente) reached base after getting hit by a pitch to lead off the inning.

Two outs later, Alexia Galicia (Los Alamitos) singled to left field. Gabriella DiBenedetto (Marina) belted a two-run double to left center, trimming the lead to 4-3.

DiBenedetto had two doubles and was one of two players who had two hits.

Georgia Rickenbacker (La Habra) also had two hits.

Kelsey Perez (Canyon) was able to retire Alivia Magellanes on an infield ground out to end the inning and kept NHC on top by a single run.

However, SCC managed to get a run in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game. Faith Pulsifer (Los Alamitos) led off the sixth with a single to right center.

She was pinch run for by Kaila Arakaki (Edison). The speedy Arakaki then promptly stole second.

Moments later, with the third baseman charging in expecting a bunt, Arakaki stole third base and the throw sailed down the third base into left field allowing Arakaki to score and tie the game at 4-4. Perez struck out the side and the game was called a tie after six innings.

“After I stole second, I was expecting to steal third,” said Arakaki, who was on base three times in the game. “As I was running toward third, I realized they didn’t have anyone at the bag to catch the throw because the third baseman was charging in, so I was able to score when the ball ended up in left field. This was a fun game. “

SCC took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning on an unusual play.

With one out, Emily Racine (San Clemente) singled to right. Bailey McNeal (Mission Viejo) was hit by a pitch, giving SCC runners at first and second with one out. Jordan Castrellon (Los Alamitos) then hit a high fly to deep right that the fielder seemed to have initially bobbled, but was it was ruled a catch.

On the play, Racine tagged and scored from second and McNeal moved to second base. The umpires came together to discuss the play and it was ruled that McNeal left the first base bag early and was called out, but Racine’s run counted.

In the fourth inning, NHC tied the game at 1-1. Ashley Driskill (El Modena) singled to right field with two outs. Rickenbacker then hit a short popup into right field.

The second baseman and right fielder collided as they attempted to make the catch and the ball rolled away from them, allowing Driskill to score and Rickenbacker to end up on third with an RBI triple, tying the score at 1-1.

Michigan-commit Mia Valbuena (Marina) was the pitching star of the game with five strikeouts and yielded only one hit over the first three innings for SCC.

“I wasn’t nervous; it was great game and we all had a good time,” said Valbuena.   

Players from the two teams exchanged handshakes at the end of the game.

“This was a dream team and a great group to coach,” said Canyon Coach Jess Carbajal. “I hope the girls remember all of the time and hard work they put in.”

SCC assistant coach and Los Alamitos Coach Rob Weil put the all-star game in perspective.

“It’s a great way for these kids to close out their senior year,” said Weil. “It’s their last hurray.”

El Modena coach and NHC assistant coach Bobby Calderon agreed.

“It’s their last chance to put on that high school uniform one more time and compete as a high school senior,” said Calderon. 

“It’s all about the players,” said NHC Coach Alia Marguez of Sunny Hills.

Notes: 

—In the second game, the combined Trinity League-Pacific Coast League squad beat the team of players consisting of the Empire, Freeway, Sea View and Grove Leagues 6-2. (Check back Thursday for coverage).

–—Many of the players on both teams will be playing college softball next season.

NHC team:  Mia Saenz (Canyon), Taylor Sicard (Alfred University), Maya Valenzuela (San Diego State), Bella Alcala (Sacred Heart), Leyia Ayres (Orange Coast College), Kylie Tafua (Oregon), Alyssa Hernandez (Siena), Kelsey Perez (Cal State East Bay), Georgia Rickenbacker (Dartmouth), Alyssa Olguin (Asuza Pacific), Sydney Ween (Boise State), Sophia Sandoval (Cal State Fullerton), Madison Payne (Holy Cross), Abby Amezquita (Cypress College), Samaya Holguin (Long Beach City), Elayna Marguez (Eastern New Mexico), Jocelyn Alatorre (Kansas) and Ashley Driskill (UC San Diego).   

SCC team:  Kaila Arakaki (North Dakota State), Marcilyn Ruvalcaba (Saddleback), Marley Readman (Montana State Billings), Mia Valbuena (Michigan), Alivia Magellanes (East Texas A&M), Alexis Galicia (Cal State San Marcos), Gabriella DiBendette (Maryland), Avi Valbuena (University Tennessee-Chattanooga), Faith Pulsifer (East Texas A&M), Emily Racine (Weber State), Bailey McNeal (Saddleback), Jordan Castrellon (Northern Colorado), Haven Nekritz (NYU), Savannah Gisher (Chapman University), Cassidy Stinnett (North Dakota State). 

—-Between the all-star games, 12 members of the Orange County Softball Hall of Fame were inducted: Sue Enquist (San Clemente), Lynn Callahan (El Toro), Liz Mizera (Pacifica), Coach Sharon Caperton (Brea Olinda), Tara Henry (El Modena), Marian ”Speedy” Mendoza (Garden Grove), Kelly Hauxhurst (Westminster), Mandy Urfer (Orange Lutheran), Amy Letourneau (Santa Margarita), Tera Blanco (Marina), Taylor McQuillin (Mission Viejo), Alyssa Palomino (Mission Viejo).