December 22, 2024

OC Sports Zone: Community First

Woodbridge battles but drops second round CIF playoff game to top-seeded Moorpark

Woodbridge infielders and pitcher Breanna Izzo wrap up a team meeting Tuesday. (Photo OC Sports Zone, Tim Burt).

Top-seeded Moorpark cashed in an error in the fourth inning into two runs and went on to defeat Woodbridge 2-0 in the second round of the CIF Division 4 softball playoffs at Deanna Manning Stadium Tuesday afternoon.

“We tried. Except for one error and one oddly hit ball, it would have been a zero-zero ball game and we would be in extra innings,” said Woodbridge Coach Kim Wojciechowski. “Two unearned runs killed us.”

Moorpark (21-4) had two runners with two outs in the fourth and it looked like Woodbridge would get out of the inning without a run scoring. But Dri Martinez reached on an infield error allowing the first run to score and Kate Guy reached on an infield single on a ball that too a bad hop to drive in the second unearned run.

Woodbridge pitcher Breanna Izzo pitched an outstanding game for Woodbridge, allowing four hits and striking out four.

But the Warriors (17-13) couldn’t get much going offensively. Peyton Harris, Bianca Vasquez and Anna Jensen had the hits for Woodbridge.

Moorpark starter Maddy Finnerty went the distance, allowing three hits and striking out 13. She struck out the side twice.

Izzo, who has committed to West Point, said she was proud of the team’s effort. She finished with a 12-3 record on the mound.

“It’s a tough loss, but it’s a young team and I see so much future in this team for next year and the next three years,” said Izzo. “There is so much talent and so much to build off of where the program is just going to take off in the next few years. I’m so ready for West Point, it’s definitely going to be a change, but it’s a change I’ve been looking forward to since I committed.”

Woodbridge opened the playoffs Thursday with an 6-2 victory over Anaheim.

“We scored three runs in the first inning and two runs in the second,” Wojciechowski said. “Audrey (Song) was probably most consistent in that game, but my top four (Song, Peyton Harris, Anna Kim and Izzo) always come through for me.

“The season overall was really good, it was probably one of the best ones we’ve had in the last couple years. We had 17 wins and we had five last year, so definitely a big improvement, so I’m very happy. I’m sad to see it come to an end.”

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