PHOTOS: One big inning lifts Woodbridge to opening round CIF playoff victory

Woodbridge players and coaches celebrate after a CIF playoff victory Thursday. (Photos: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Woodbridge High School’s softball team broke open a scoreless tie with four runs in the third inning and held on to defeat Burroughs of Burbank 4-3 in the opening round of the CIF Division 3 playoffs Thursday at Deanna Manning Stadium.

Woodbridge advanced to the CIF playoffs after winning its second consecutive Pacific Coast League title with a 10-2 record.

“It’s the first time in my coaching career that we’ve had back to back wins,” said Woodbridge head coach Kim Wojciechowski of the titles. “It’s pretty special, this group of kids is unique and they really have bonded like sisters, it’s been a joy to coach them.”

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Woodbridge (14-9) now moves on on to the second round to face Fullerton, which defeated Hart 4-3. The game will be Tuesday at 3:15 p.m. at Fullerton.

The Warriors threatened to score in the second inning against Burroughs (21-9) before breaking through in the third inning.

“It was a big inning in the third inning,” said Woodbridge Coach Jerry Rose. “They got her (the starting pitcher) timed, they had all seen her once which really helps our team. It seems to be the way we work a lot of times, we need to go through the order once.

“Even though later on, even though we didn’t score, we were still putting the ball in play pretty well and we had a lot baserunners that we left stranded, and that’s why they changed pitchers on us when they figured we had her timed.”

In the bottom of the third inning, Kait Underwood singled and went to second on a wild pitch. Seli Yamamoto then drove her in with a single. Audrey Song followed with a single to put runners on first and third. With two outs, catcher Clarissa Stayrook delivered a two-run double to deep left field and Senna Yamamoto followed with an RBI single to put the Warriors ahead 4-0.

“Clarissa has been clutch a few times this year, that’s not the first time, and she’s just starting to blossom,” Rose said. “She’s only a sophomore and she’s solid behind the plate and her bat has been coming through.”

Woodbridge’s starting pitcher Mia Tamkoc worked out of some jams in the first two innings and shutout Burroughs until the sixth inning. Sophie Rangsiyawong had an RBI single to break the shutout and Alyssa Rosales drove home two more with a single. But Tamkoc, who did not walk a batter, was able to work out of trouble.

In the top of the seventh, Burroughs had a runner at second with two outs, but Tamkoc retired the final hitter to end the game.

“Mia pitched a heck of a game,” said Wojciechowski of Tamkoc, who has verbally committed to Southern Utah. “She came out strong, stayed strong through the whole game and kept them off balanced, it was really impressive.”

Both teams wound up with 11 hits.

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