Woodbridge captures shutout win over Irvine and keeps PCL title hopes alive

Woodbridge leadoff hitter Payton Harris waits for a pitch in Monday’s game. The Irvine catcher is Jocelyn Knerr. (PHOTOS: Tim Burt, OC Sports Zone).

Woodbridge High School’s softball team struck early for four runs and went on to defeat Irvine 4-0 in a Pacific Coast League game at Deanna Manning Stadium Monday evening to complete a two-game series sweep over its crosstown rivals.

Woodbridge (10-8-1, 6-1) still has a shot at sharing the league title with a win Thursday on the road against league-leader Rosary (21-2-1, 6-0). Irvine (5-14, 3-3) remains in third place with hopes of qualifying as the third place team from the league. Irvine needed a win over Woodbridge to move into a tie for second place.

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“This puts us right where we want to be going into Thursday, it’s our next match-up against Rosary,” said Woodbridge Coach Jerry Rose. “This gives us pretty much control of second place but as of right now, if we can beat Rosary, it might be a share of the league title. That’s what we’re aiming for right now.”

Mia Tamkoc was stellar on the mound again for Woodbridge, scattering four hits and striking out nine. she did not walk a batter. Woodbridge was led offensively by leadoff hitter Payton Harris, who was 3 for 3 with two triples and two runs scored.

Harris got it going offensively for Woodbridge with a triple in the bottom of the first inning, then scored on an RBI triple to right field by Audrey Song. Song scored on a groundout by Seli Yamamoto off Irvine starter Midori De Los Santos.

“It was a good victory, I think we worked well as a team, bats were working, defense was working, all-around I think we just clicked today,” said Harris, adding that the Warriors are looking forward to the rematch with Rosary. “I hit both line drives pretty much in the same spot, I just stayed in my zone, I knew what pitch I was looking for, that middle in pitch, and let the bat go.”

Woodbridge then used a triple by Harris, walks to Song and Yamamoto and a single by Clarissa Stayrook for two more runs in the third inning. Harris and Song both scored on wild pitches.

Then it was up to Tamkoc to finish it out. Tamkoc did not allow a runner past first base after the first inning. Abby Sasaki and Reese Villanueva had singles in the first inning with two outs but were stranded there.

Tamkoc is 8-6 overall with a 1.51 ERA and 98 strikeouts in 92 innings. In league play, Tamkoc is 5-1 with a 0.60 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 34 innings.

“It’s just indicative of the season she’s had,” Rose said. “Her numbers are just incredible this year, she’s having just a great senior year.”

Rose was also pleased with the hitting of Harris and Song.

Harris is batting .700 in league and .520 overall and Song is batting .400 overall with 12 RBI, 16 steals and 13 runs scored overall.

“Payton is the ignition on this engine, she’s been on fire the whole season,” Rose said. “When Audrey’s on, we’ve got just a killer top two.”

Irvine Coach Jim Knapp credited the efforts of Harris, Song for getting the Warriors off to a great start.

“They’re two of the best players in the league, the top two hitters,” Knapp said. “We’re just trying to move the ball around on them and see if we can get them off balanced. They got a hold of two balls, then they did it to us again in the third inning. Everyone else we sort of controlled pretty well. Those two, we couldn’t find a way to get them out.

“Tamkoc is the best pitcher in the league, I told the girls they got to be more aggressive against the good pitchers and not less aggressive because she’s going to pound the zone and you got to be ready to hit it. We watched too many pitches go by for strikes.”

Knapp is still optimistic about post-season play.

“We’re going to make CIF (playoffs) as long as we take care of business the rest of the year and we will see if we can do any damage,” Knapp said. “I thought my pitcher pitched pretty well overall, a couple balls probably got away, and again, two good hitters.”

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