Southwest softball on to semis with 1-0 win over Mira Mesa
EL CENTRO — The Southwest High softball team’s 1-0 win over Mira Mesa High in Saturday’s CIF-San Diego Section Div. III second-round playoff game ultimately came down to the finesse of the Eagles’ catcher Iliana Manzano.
At the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs, the Southwest defense was unable to stop a powerful hit from Mira Mesa that landed deep in the outfield.
With Eagle outfielders scrambling to catch up with the ball, Mira Mesa’s Brooklynn Ennis was able to round third and sprint toward home. Manzano knew the Eagles needed a big play.
“I just thought, ‘Get the ball as soon as you can and just try not to miss it,’” the SHS catcher said. “I was trying not to think about it too much, and just catch it and get her out.”
Manzano was able to catch the relay, tag out the incoming runner and prevent the Marauders from extending the game into extra innings.
With the win, Southwest advanced to play in the CIF semifinal game, and raised their overall record to 25-6.
Southwest’s head softball coach Stephanie Niebla believed the exciting finish to the game was one her team was definitely prepared for.
“When balls slip through like that, you cringe up a little bit, but then it’s like, ‘OK, let’s see it work,’ because we do it over and over again,” Nielba said. “We do a lot of work on cuts, and I knew the girls were prepared. When I saw the ball coming, I had a feeling we were going to get that play.”
Pitching all seven innings for the Eagles was junior Sadriena Rodriguez. Southwest sophomore Madeline Jungers scored her team’s only run in the second inning. Jungers was able to score from third after a hit by teammate Victoria Cruz.
Solid defense from both teams prevented any scoring after the second inning.
“I think every inning after we were trying to get the score up, but their defense was pretty good out there, so we were just trying to get little hits here and there,” Manzano said.
“Especially going deep into the game with 1-0, you want that comfort, but I know my girls well, and I knew we’d be able to keep that,” Niebla said. “Just now moving forward, we have to be a little more aggressive with our bats.”
The Eagles went into the game ranked No. 1, while the Marauders were ranked No. 4.
“I wasn’t really focused on the number because I know every team, especially left now, is good,” Niebla said. “We’ve got to worry about what we’re doing and not what the other team has done.”
Southwest will face a familiar opponent in their upcoming semifinal game, as their cross-town rival Central Union High, which is ranked No. 2, also advanced to the semifinals after defeating Helix High, 2-1, on Saturday.
“It can be a good thing and a bad thing because we know what they have, but then that can also be a bad thing because it can also mess with us,” Manzano said on playing against Central. “We just have to stay with our team and what we have to do with our bats and our defense.”
Niebla said she looks forward to using her previous experience in the postseason to lead her team in the semifinals.
“I’m excited; I’ve been there before,” the SHS head coach said. “I think all these girls are very hungry, and it’s an exciting time. We’ve got to make sure we keep the game at the level it should be, but it’s exciting for them, and I’m excited to get there and do what we do.”
The Eagles will host the Spartans in the Div. III semifinals on Thursday at the Poway Sportsplex in San Diego.