PHOTOS: Pacifica storms back to upset Norco and captures CIF Division 1 championship

Pacifica players celebrate with their championship patches after Friday’s victory. (Photo: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; action photos John Luciano / For OC Sports Zone).

Avid Pacifica High School softball fans, who were part of a enthusiastic standing-room-only crowd at Deanna Manning Stadium Friday night, had plenty to cheer and celebrate about.

Pacifica rallied from an early 5-2 deficit, exploding for seven runs in the fifth inning to defeat top-seeded Norco 15-9 in the CIF Division 1 championship game that was the highest scoring section final in CIF history.

It’s the first CIF title for Pacifica since 2014 and the eighth overall for the program.

“It’s been a roller coaster of a season, up and down, we didn’t win league, didn’t meet expectations at the start of the year, but all of that adversity, not winning league and losing eight games, it made us the team that we are today and because of that adversity is why we’re CIF champions,” said Pacifica Coach Tony Arduino.

“I told everyone the team that plays the most catch wins, we didn’t play any catch today, we kicked the ball all over the field, but like always, somebody picked us up, our offense picked us up and we scored 15 runs, that’s probably the most runs we’ve scored all year. I am so proud of this group to battle what we did and to come out on top is awesome.”

To see the slide show, click on the first photo:

Pacifica (23-8) took a 2-0 lead with two runs in the first inning but Norco scored four in the second and one more in the fourth to move ahead 5-2.

However, the Mariners batted around in the fifth, scoring seven runs. Delaina Ma’ae had a two-run single and Kayli Counts and Michaeala Meza had RBI singles in the inning. Pacifica also benefited by an error and a hit batter to move ahead 9-5

Norco (28-4) answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning, but Pacifica countered with four more runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to break the game open. Annika Sogsti had a bases clearing triple in the sixth for the Mariners.

Norco scored two runs in the seventh, but with Pacifica fans on their feet and screaming, starting pitcher Brynne Nally notched a game-clinching strikeout and the celebration began on the field and in the stands for the Mariners.

Nally battled all night, going the distance allowing nine runs (seven earned) and nine hits and striking out four.

“It’s really an amazing feeling, there’s nothing like it,” said Nally. “When you go into high school, this is everyone’s goal and dream and the fact that we were able to accomplish that is just so exciting.”

Nally also had an RBI double in the seventh and scored two runs.

“That last hit, I stepped into the box and said, ‘I need to do a job here and I’m going to help my team win this,'” she said.

Nally had a 14-hit attack behind her, led by Ma’ae who was 3 for 5 with three runs scored and three RBI and Sogsti, who was 3 for 4 with four RBI and two runs scored.

In addition, Kaniya Bragg was 1 for 2 with an RBI and three runs scored and Counts was 2 for 5 with two RBI and a run scored.

Tamyrn Shorter was 1 for 4 with three RBI and Katie Terrazas 1 for 4 with two RBI to lead Norco.

Pacifica outhit Norco 14-9 and both teams had three errors.

Pacifica has elected not to play in the Southern California Regional tournament in two weeks, Arduino said.

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