Pacifica Runs Past No. 2 Sonora

Pacifica has won the last three Southern Section softball titles, and the Mariners aren’t holding anything back to win a fourth.

Aggressive and opportunistic, they put away another opponent Tuesday.

This time, the Mariners knocked off second-seeded Sonora, 2-0, in a Division III semifinal on the strength of some gutsy base-running and the combined no-hitter of sophomore Jessica Marical and Kasey Clark.

Coach Rob Weil didn’t waste Marical’s performance, nor did he get caught up emotionally. Marical (17-1) pitched 6 2/3 innings, but was removed after her seventh walk put runners at first and second base in the bottom of the seventh.

Clark got the last out, a bouncer back to the pitcher, and Pacifica (24-8-1) celebrated an opportunity to win an unprecedented fourth consecutive section title.

Sonora (25-8) failed in its bid to reach the title game for the first time since 1985.

“I wanted to finish it so bad, but I was getting tired,” said Marical, who missed last year’s playoffs because of a back injury. “He did the right thing.”

Weil also did the right thing in the third inning when he was coaching third base.

Diana Barreras--whose two-strike squeeze bunt put away El Dorado in the first round--faked a bunt and Marical stole third. Dawn Ramynke’s throw to third base was in the dirt, and the ball bounced a few harmless feet away.

Or so it seemed.

Weil sent Marical home, and she slid safely ahead of the throw.

“He makes some gutsy calls sometimes,” said Marical, who never saw the ball that rolled about five feet away from third base.

“That’s been my style my entire career,” said Weil, who is 242-58-2 in 11 seasons at Pacifica. “Sometimes you get burned, but if you’re consistent, eventually it’s going to help you.”

The 1-0 lead meant everything. Marical, who walked three in the first two innings, retired seven in a row and nine of the next 10 before walking the first batter in the sixth inning, Andee Lindgren.

But Sonora continued to struggle and Lindgren never reached second. Sonora stranded seven, three at second base, none at third. Marical struck out four.

“The biggest disappointment was that we couldn’t get a hit,” said Lindgren (12-5), who gave up eight hits and struck out 10. “[Marical] walked seven people, and we couldn’t execute, we couldn’t get anybody home.”

Pacifica will play top-seeded Hacienda Heights Wilson Friday or Saturday at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

Pacifica scored an unearned run in the fifth. Jodie Legaspi singled, and scored from second on an error on Mallorie Lenn’s grounder.