Pacifica’s Soto Gets Her Shot at the Title

The words weren’t said with malice, or indignation, but matter-of-factly. Lance Eddy, Canyon’s softball coach, explained why his team could beat top-seeded Pacifica in the Southern Section playoffs.

“We felt Jessica Soto was a pitcher we could hit,” Eddy said, repeating a theory many coaches believed. “We felt we’d have to score five runs to beat them. I was looking at a 5-4, 6-4 game.

“I thought we’d score.”

Famous last words.

Canyon got two hits--and didn’t come close to scoring.

Soto, the pitcher who replaced two-time Times Orange County Player of the Year Amanda Freed on Pacifica’s softball team, has allowed only two runs in four playoff games. Since the Mariners’ 11-2 victory over Lakewood St. Joseph in the first round, Soto has shut out Canyon (4-0), Corona Santiago (6-0) and fourth-seeded Newbury Park (1-0, 10 innings).

Next up: Brea Olinda, tonight, in the Division III championship at Mayfair Park.

It has been a rewarding trip for Soto, who had a long wait for the spotlight to finally shine on her.

A pitcher who played third banana to Toni Mascarenas (Arizona) and Freed (UCLA) while coming up through Pacifica’s program, Soto shouldered nearly all Pacifica’s pitching needs this season.

Soto is 22-7, with more victories than any pitcher in Orange County, and has a 0.46 earned-run average.

“It’s rewarding that all the hard work has paid off, the pitching lessons, the work, the patience,” Soto said. “It means a lot to me. I’ve been to the championship game two times now, but haven’t had a chance to go out there and pitch. I’ve watched it, and dreamed of me being out there, and it’s finally here. I’m finally getting my chance.

“It’s my turn.”

A finesse pitcher who knows opposing coaches consider her a weak link, Soto hasn’t let that eat at her.

“I’ll try to make this like any other game,” Soto said, “not put too much pressure on myself and play my game, and not let mental or emotional stuff get inside my head.”

It’s a recipe that has worked all season for her and her teammates.

“We’ve done a good job with what we had,” Soto said. “We’ve stepped up and done our job.”

That might be the hallmark of Pacifica this season--the Mariners individually have done their jobs. The last two seasons, they could rely heavily on Freed, who averaged two strikeouts per inning and only 1.2 hits per seven innings. Soto is much different, not as fast, averaging 0.78 strikeouts/inning and 3.7 hits.

She is more hittable, and beatable, certainly. Still, Pacifica is 23-8 and one victory away from winning a third consecutive title, this time without the benefit of the state player of the year.

“With Amanda Freed gone,” Pacifica catcher Toria Auelua said, “we didn’t know what to expect this season.

“Jessica’s pitching well and everyone’s playing up to par.”

But Auelua says it’s not just Soto who has Pacifica pointed in the right direction. In fact, Pacifica’s success this season might point to just how good everyone else is.

The Mariners, as a team, are batting .282 with a .413 on-base average. Second baseman Dara Webb (48 steals) has a .477 on-base average. Auelua has a .719 slugging average with 26 runs batted in. Eight of nine starters have on-base averages of at least .322.

“It’s the whole team, not just Jessica,” Auelua said a few weeks ago. “We knew she’d fill in well for Amanda [in the playoffs]. But it will take the whole team to get [to the finals].”

And now they’re here, with a considerable edge in big-game experience over unseeded Brea, which is making its first appearance in a championship game.

But Soto, who will make her first title start, clearly won the respect of her coach, Rob Weil.

“Jessica had the pressure coming in to keep up with the pitchers of the past,” he said. “She’s responded tremendously.

“She’s waited three years to get into this situation. She’s kept us in every single ball game--that’s what we need.”