Oaks Christian continues to dominate
WESTLAKE VILLAGE » Oaks Christian softball’s Anahi Arreola gave her own meaning to the phrase “walk-off grand slam” in Tuesday’s CIF Southern Section Division 1 second-round game.
Arreola had to leave the game early for a church event and in her last at-bat of the game, she stepped up to the plate and cracked a fourth-inning grand slam to center field.
“So proud of her,” sophomore Lily Knox, who scored a run on the hit, said. “She truly came in for our team and did what she needed to do.”
The Lions rode Arreola’s big hit to a 13-3 win over Chino Hills on Tuesday afternoon to move on to the CIF-SS Division 1 quarterfinals, slated for Thursday afternoon against Murrieta Mesa.
Oaks Christian (30-0) started scoring early as Rylee McCoy put up a run on a sacrifice ground out, then Lily Knox hit an RBI single in the first inning. The Lions put up four more runs in the second and third inning combined before Chino Hills (23-7) scored their first run in the fourth inning.
In that frame, Lions pitcher Micaela Kastor was hit with a line drive to the chest and appeared shaken, but only momentarily. After she returned to the circle,
Chino Hills’ Tatum Johnson was able to get on base due to a flurry of errors by Oaks Christian.
The Lions met briefly at the circle, then took their places on the field once again. Kastor threw a strikeout immediately after to close out the inning.
“It only takes a bump in the road to get you out of your lane,” coach Pete Ackerman said. “Thank goodness they regrouped and played the way we’re supposed to play.”
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Anahi hit her grand slam to pull Oaks Christian ahead, 10-1.
After a scoreless fifth frame, Maria Luna hit a two-run homer to keep the Huskies alive in the sixth inning. The Lions answered once again when Knox went yard for two runs — her second home run in two playoff games.
“I went up there and thought of my team,” Knox said. We needed to get 10 runs for the mercy rule. “I just wanted to put a stamp on it.”
Knox put the stamp on it, and Liesl Osteen mailed it as she singled to put the game away.
Oaks Christian is rolling through the playoffs, first shutting out Valley View in the opening round before beating Chino Hills, the Baseline League champions. They’re hoping to carry the momentum into Thursday’s matchup against Murrieta Mesa.
“We have such good chemistry on our team,” Knox said. “We’re just gonna come out here and put our best effort forward, 24/7 and just let it be.”
Other games
Corona Centennial defeated Royal 10-0 in Division 2.
In Division 3, Notre Dame/ Sherman Oaks fell to Temescal Canyon... Tesoro defeated Agoura 5-2, and St. Anthony topped Quartz Hill 13-2.
In Division 4, top-seeded Moorpark beat Woodbridge 2-0 thanks to Maddie Finnerty, who threw a three-hit shutout in the Musketeers’ second-round win. Heritage Christian edged Buena 1-0.