Granada Hills softball advances to City Section final, where it hopes to reverse a recent trend
The Highlanders will get another chance to do just that — and get a little redemption in the process — when they face their nemesis Carson in the championship game Saturday at 3 p.m. at Cal State Northridge.
'You're peaking at the right time,' head coach Ivan Garcia told his team after Wednesday's five-inning 19-0 semifinal shutout of visiting Venice. 'This was the best game we've played so far from start to finish, but we have one more. Let's put a punctuation mark on the season!'
Pitcher Addison Moorman struck out nine of the 16 batters she faced and got plenty of support from the offense as the Highlanders (27-3) batted around in the first inning and scored six runs. They added four runs in the second on RBI singles by Sam Esparza, Annabela Ramirez and Jasmine Soriano and an RBI triple by Zoe Justman.
In the third, the home side kept pouring it on as Brown hit a two-run single and Elysse Diaz added a two-run triple. Granada Hills finished with 15 hits — three each by Esparza and Diaz and two each by Soriano, Justman and Brown. The Highlanders' defense was also on display as center fielder Jocelyn Jimenez made a running over-the-shoulder grab to rob Gondoliers hitter Sandy Carrera of extra bases in the fourth.
Granada Hills has outscored its first two playoff opponents 32-0 and only a bloop single in the second inning kept Moorman from back-to-back no-hitters.
'We've bonded more since last year and I've worked on my changeup,' said Moorman, who signed with Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in November. 'We're playing as a team right now and we know what it's like to be on the big stage.'
The Highlanders have posted an 80-12 record the last three seasons, their only two defeats in City competition coming in extra innings to Carson in the finals. They get another crack at the third-seeded Colts (22-3-1), who routed San Pedro 11-1 in Wednesday's other semifinal, and hope the third time's the charm. Granada Hills will not participate in the SoCal Regionals like it did one year ago.
'Losing in the finals the last two years has helped us with our mindset and will help to eliminate the nerves because we know what to expect,' said Brown, a Manhattan University commit who graduates alongside Moorman on Thursday night. 'Our coaches have preached all season 'next man up' and go base to base. We've all put in a ton of work and we're extra motivated because of who we're playing [in the finals].'
Brown is happy the game will be at CSUN instead of in the South Bay, where the previous two finals were played (at Cal State Dominguez Hills in 2023 and at Long Beach State last spring when Carson prevailed 1-0 in 14 innings despite Moorman's 19 strikeouts).
'I've done camps there [at Northridge] and the last two years it's been long bus rides,' Brown added. 'Last year we got there late and couldn't warm-up efficiently so I'm glad this time it's right down the street.'
Carson also appears to be rounding into postseason form. The Colts mercied Birmingham 16-5 in the quarterfinals of the eight-team Open bracket and avenged two Marine League losses to second-seeded San Pedro (17-4) on Wednesday for their sixth win in a row.
Carson has won five City crowns, all in the upper division, since 2011. Granada Hills is seeking its first title in 44 years, having won the 4A Division in 1975, 1980 and 1981.
'I'm graduating tomorrow night yet it's been hard to focus on school,' Moorman admitted. 'It slips my mind. It's all about Saturday right now.'
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
4 hours ago
Rays rally late to beat Giants 2-1, spoil Verlander's strong start
SAN FRANCISCO -- Yandy Díaz and Brandon Lowe hit consecutive two-out RBI singles in the eighth inning, and the Tampa Bay Rays rallied for the second straight day to beat the San Francisco Giants 2-1 on Saturday night. The Rays' offense had been on mute much of the day against three-time Cy Young winner Justin Verlander, but broke out when Verlander left after seven scoreless innings. After No. 9 hitter Nick Fortes was hit by a pitch with two outs, Chandler Simpson singled before Díaz singled in Tampa Bay's first run off José Buttó (3-3). Lowe followed with his second hit of the game to drive in a run and hand the Giants their seventh consecutive loss. Edwin Uceta (9-2) retired four batters. Pete Fairbanks pitched the ninth for his 22nd save. Tampa Bay's win spoiled a solid start by the 42-year-old Verlander, who allowed two hits and had eight strikeouts, moving him within four of tying Walter Johnson (3,515) for ninth place on the career list. The Giants scored in the sixth when Willy Adames singled, stole second and came home when Christian Koss hit a single past diving third baseman Junior Caminero. Rays starter Adrian Houser matched his season-high of six strikeouts and allowed four hits over five scoreless innings making his third start since being acquired from the Chicago White Sox. Rays manager Kevin Cash was ejected in the eighth inning for arguing a strike call. With two on and two out in the sixth, Rays right fielder Jake Mangum chased down Jung Hoo Lee's deep drive and made a sliding catch on the warning track. Verlander needed 17 pitches to retire the side in the sixth and seventh. ___
12 hours ago
Morales, Rooker lead Athletics to 7-2 win over Angels
WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Luis Morales struck out five in his second career start, Brent Rooker and Colby Thomas hit home runs, and the Athletics beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-2 on Saturday night. Morales (1-0) threw five innings and allowed one run, walking two, in his third career appearance. He has allowed two runs in 9 2/3 innings since his Aug. 1 callup. Thomas' two-run homer, his third of the year, put the A's on the board in the first inning. Darell Hernaiz drove in two on a third-inning single, and Rooker padded the A's lead with his solo homer in the fifth. Brett Harris and Rooker added insurance in the eighth with RBI singles. Sean Newcomb threw 1 2/3 innings and struck out three to earn his first save of the year. Nolan Schanuel had three hits, and Angels' starter Tyler Anderson (2-8) allowed four earned runs, three hits, and issued five walks in the loss. The A's have won 6 of their last 10 games, while the Angels have lost 6 of their last 10. Morales walked the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the first, but worked his way out of the jam with no runs scored. He only allowed one more runner to reach scoring position for the rest of his outing. The A's have scored 90 total runs in the first inning, the best in MLB and five clear of second place (Boston with 85). Angels RHP José Soriano (8-9, 3.84 ERA) faces Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (10-8, 4.08) in the final game of the three-game series. ___
Los Angeles Times
12 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Nolan Schanuel's three-hit night can't save Angels from another loss to Athletics
WEST SACRAMENTO — Luis Morales struck out five in his second career start, Brent Rooker and Colby Thomas hit home runs, and the Athletics beat the Angels 7-2 on Saturday night. Morales (1-0) threw five innings and allowed one run, walking two, in his third career appearance. He has allowed two runs in 9⅔ innings since his Aug. 1 callup. Thomas' two-run homer, his third of the year, put the A's on the board in the first inning. Darell Hernaiz drove in two on a third-inning single, and Rooker padded the A's lead with his solo homer in the fifth. Brett Harris and Rooker added insurance in the eighth with RBI singles. Sean Newcomb threw 1⅔ innings and struck out three to earn his first save of the year. Nolan Schanuel had three hits, and Angels' starter Tyler Anderson (2-8) allowed four earned runs, three hits, and issued five walks in the loss. The A's have won six of their last 10 games, while the Angels have lost six of their last 10. Key moment: Morales walked the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the first, but worked his way out of the jam with no runs scored. He only allowed one more runner to reach scoring position for the rest of his outing. Key stat: The A's have scored 90 total runs in the first inning, the best in MLB and five clear of second place (Boston with 85). Up next: Angels RHP José Soriano (8-9, 3.84 ERA) faces Athletics LHP Jeffrey Springs (10-8, 4.08) in the final game of the three-game series.
