Costa Softball Goes Deeper in CIF Playoffs
May 08, 2019 12:36PM ● By Mb News Staff
For the first time in 7 years, the Mira Costa softball team is heading to the third round of the CIF playoffs.
Costa got on the board quickly in the first inning at home against Diamond Bar. Piper Neri reached on a walk and later came around on a single by Amanda Siegel. Emma Fong later singled and scored on a wild pitch.
The second inning must have had the Diamond Bar players rattled further. Katie Katsuyama reached based on a walk and was able to score from second base later due to an error by the right fielder.
Diamond Bar got one back in the 4th on their first hit: A leadoff homer by Emily Ruhl. But in the 5th inning, Costa's Fong singled again and was later in position to score on Jenna Ortega's sac fly to left, leaving the score at 4-1.
The visitors got one more in the 6th to make it 4-2 and brought up the top of their order for a tense top of the 7th.
A groundout got Costa its vital first out, but the next batter was Ruhl, who had already homered. She slammed a deep drive to right field, where RF Morgan Ingham had to field it while looking directly into the sun. The shot was a sure double, which would have brought up the tying run in the next batter, but Ingham made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch, sparking cries of joy from the crowd. One batter later, it was over.
Pitcher Katie Katsuyama went the distance, allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks and 7 strikeouts over 7 innings.
Costa's next game is Thursday, May 9, at 3:15PM at Diamond Ranch HS in Pomona.
The last time Costa made it to the third round of CIF playoffs was 2012.
Meanwhile, on a neighboring field at the same time Thursday, Costa's baseball team also won a second-round playoff game, 2-1 versus Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. They move on to play Friday at La Mirada.
Costa got on the board quickly in the first inning at home against Diamond Bar. Piper Neri reached on a walk and later came around on a single by Amanda Siegel. Emma Fong later singled and scored on a wild pitch.
The second inning must have had the Diamond Bar players rattled further. Katie Katsuyama reached based on a walk and was able to score from second base later due to an error by the right fielder.
Diamond Bar got one back in the 4th on their first hit: A leadoff homer by Emily Ruhl. But in the 5th inning, Costa's Fong singled again and was later in position to score on Jenna Ortega's sac fly to left, leaving the score at 4-1.
The visitors got one more in the 6th to make it 4-2 and brought up the top of their order for a tense top of the 7th.
A groundout got Costa its vital first out, but the next batter was Ruhl, who had already homered. She slammed a deep drive to right field, where RF Morgan Ingham had to field it while looking directly into the sun. The shot was a sure double, which would have brought up the tying run in the next batter, but Ingham made an incredible over-the-shoulder catch, sparking cries of joy from the crowd. One batter later, it was over.
Pitcher Katie Katsuyama went the distance, allowing 4 hits, 2 earned runs, 4 walks and 7 strikeouts over 7 innings.
Costa's next game is Thursday, May 9, at 3:15PM at Diamond Ranch HS in Pomona.
The last time Costa made it to the third round of CIF playoffs was 2012.
Meanwhile, on a neighboring field at the same time Thursday, Costa's baseball team also won a second-round playoff game, 2-1 versus Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. They move on to play Friday at La Mirada.
