4 days Ago
ANAHEIM — Fullerton’s softball team came out swinging, and connecting, against Pacifica in the opening round of the Michelle Carew Classic on Wednesday at Peralta Park.The Indians, ranked No. 6 in Orange County, led by four runs after three innings, then watched as the No.
3 Mariners come back and took a two-run lead into the bottom of the sixth.The Indians, the designated home team, still had some clout in their bats, and scored three runs in the bottom of the sixth for an 8-7 walk-off victory over the Mariners.Fullerton shortstop Melia Vera scores the winning run against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
Pacifica catcher Leyla Ayres waits for the throw. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton’s Andrea Montes De Oca, center, and teammate Melia Vera, right, celebrate after winning in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament against Pacifica in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Pacifica catcher Leyla Ayres slides into the bag at third as the throw to Fullerton’s Ava Flores goes wide in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer).Fullerton catcher Ava Flores twists to catch an infield pop fly against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Pacifica first baseman Arianna Salas rounds third after hitting a solo home run against Fullerton in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Pacifica first baseman Arianna Salas gets a high five as she returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run against Fullerton in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Pacifica second baseman Natalie Pacheco, right, turns a double play as she forces out Fullerton runner Kaylyn Yi in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton outfielder Andrea Montes De Oca, right, slides into the bag at third ahead of the throw to Pacifica shortstop Aliyah Sandoval during the tie breaker in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Pacifica shortstop Natalia Amezquita lets a grounder get by her in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament against Fullerton in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton outfielder Kaylyn Yi runs home to score against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton second baseman Analise Barrios lays down a bunt against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton’s Andrea Montes De Oca gets safely back to the bag at second as the throw to Pacifica second baseman Natalie Pacheco is off the mark during the tie-breaker in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton pitcher Katelynn Mathews delivers a pitch against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Pacifica’s starting pitcher Serena Antillon winds to deliver a pitch against Fullerton in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton shortstop Melia Vera, left, celebrates after scoring the winning run against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Fullerton shortstop Melia Vera misses the grounder on a bad hop against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)CORRECTION— Pacifica pitcher Shay Kletke winds to deliver a pitch against Fullerton in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025.
(Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)Show Caption1 of 17Fullerton shortstop Melia Vera scores the winning run against Pacifica in the first round of the Carew Classic softball tournament in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Pacifica catcher Leyla Ayres waits for the throw. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)ExpandAnalise Barrios’ single to left to score Melia Vera from second with the winning run.
One batter earlier, Hayley Brock singled home Andrea Montes De Oca with the tying run.Because of the tournament’s one-hour, 45-minute time limit, the game went to an international tiebreaker format after five innings, with both teams beginning their at-bats in the sixth with a runner on second base.“My first at-bat against that pitcher I felt a little nervous,” Barrios said.
“But after hitting that first hard ground ball to shortstop, I felt more confident knowing that I could hit her hard. So, then that second at-bat I kind of already knew what kind of pitch I wanted and then I knew I could hit it hard. So, I actually felt pretty confident up in that at-bat and I was just looking for a good strike to hit and I just attacked it.
”Barrios delivered a sacrifice bunt in the first that led to Fullerton’s first run and came in to pitch.“She’s a junior, a three-year letterman,” Fullerton coach Trevor Holton said of Barrios. “So, I’m relying on her.
”Fullerton (10-4) advances to play a second-round game Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Peralta Park.
Pacifica (9-6) will play Thursday at 3:15 pm.An RBI double in the first from Malaya Majam-Finch gave the Indians a 1-0 lead.Ava Flores then singled home Majam-Finch for the second run.
Vera’s two-run double in the third made the score 4-0.Ariana Salas slugged a solo home run for the Mariners in the fourth.Abby Amezquita’s three-run triple keyed a four-run fifth for the Mariners, who took their first lead at 5-4.
In the bottom of the inning, Majam-Finch singled, driving in her second run and tying the score.“This team is very resilient,” Holton said of his team.CAREW CLASSIC SCORESWednesday’s games Rosary 5, Vista Murrieta 3Norco 3, Esperanza 0Roosevelt 10, Canyon 9Capistrano Valley 3, Great Oak 1Fullerton 8, Pacifica 7JSerra 3, Huntington Beach 0Los Alamitos 4, Chino Hills 2Related ArticlesOrange County softball stat leaders through March 29OC softball bursting with parity entering Michelle Carew ClassicOC softball Top 25: Orange Lutheran at No.
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