Members of the South and North all-star teams gather for a post-game photo Wednesday night at Deanna Manning Stadium. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).
In game one of the Orange County Coaches Senior All-Star Softball Classic Wednesday at Deanna Manning Stadium, the South team took the lead with two runs in the second inning and used solid pitching from four pitchers to capture a 3-0 victory over the North.
“It was the easiest game I ever had to coach,” said Santa Margarita Coach John Fitzpatrick, one of the South coaches. “We had some great players really, players who are scrappy and put the ball in play and do the right thing on the bases.”
To see the slide show, click on the first photo:
PHOTO: Adam Kunin, For OC Sports Zone
The South pitching was outstanding, allowing just three hits in the six inning game.
Loula-Rea McNamara from Tesoro started and pitched the first two innings for the South. She was followed by Payton Kennedy and Sawyer Denser (Santa Margarita) who each pitched an inning and Reece Uehara (Mission Viejo) who closed out on the mound with two scoreless innings.
“Reece I’ve been facing for four years and I’m glad she graduated,” Fitzpatrick said.
After being blanked in the first inning by Charley Duran (Esperanza) in the first inning, the South responded with two runs in the second inning. Kennedy and Micayla Turi (Capo Valley) walked and with one out, Kara King (Mission Viejo) delivered a two-run single.
“I knew she was going middle so I was just trying to go with the pitch,” said King. “Because at least if I get it in the outfield, I know at least one run would be scoring and that’s really all we needed because I know I play with amazing players who have my back if I don’t do anything.”
King said she enjoyed the all-star experience.
“I felt really comfortable with my coaches who allowed me to perform,” she said. “I was just trying to have fun out here. It was really weird at first because I never thought I would be on the same field as them (her teammates) playing against another team, but it was so fun, these people are amazing, they’re going to great schools and they are going to do amazing things, so it was a really good opportunity.”
King will be playing softball next year at Pace University in New York.
The South added to its lead in the fourth inning. Addison Day (Capistrano Valley) tripled to lead off and scored as part of a double steal to put the South ahead 3-0.
“It felt unreal because I didn’t think I would wear my Capo jersey again after our loss in CIF (playoffs) but I was very happy to wear my black and gold again and happy to be back on the field again,” Day told Adam Kunin of OC Sports Zone in an interview posted on X.
The North had several chances to score. A spectacular catch in center field by Day of Capo Valley ended a first inning threat, in the second inning, Gianna Serrano (Rosary) singled, went to second on a wild pitch and to third on an error, but was stranded there.
The North also had a runner on third in the second inning and on second in the sixth inning, but the South worked out of both jams to preserve the win.
The game seemed to accomplish what it set out to do, to showcase the county’s talented softball players. Both games were presented by Premier Girls Fastpitch. Game organizers were Tom Tice of Rosary and Dan Hay from Marina. It was the 27th annual edition of the event.
“This is the first time in a long time they’ve done it this way and I think it’s great because it gives an opportunity to recognize all of these talented seniors,” Fitzpatrick said. “Orange County is the mecca of softball and it’s really a tribute to these girls to come out and just play for the love of the game.”
Santa Margarita, which was 20-9 overall this past season, was well represented.
“We had a great team with nine seniors,” Fitzpatrick said. “The six here tonight are going to outstanding schools. I’m really proud of them.”
VIDEO: For highlights and post-game interviews by Adam Kunin of OC Sports Zone, go to X (@ocsportzone).
—Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone; timburt@ocsportszone.com
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