La Canada team celebrates its CIF Division 5 Championship. (Photo by Anne Cypress)
(Irvine) – La Canada’s winning streak reached 23 after reaching its goal of being crowned CIF-SS Division 5 champ at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine with a 1-0 win over Beaumont.
The Spartans had not lost since being swept in a doubleheader against West Ranch on March 15.
Billed coming into the game as a pitcher’s duel, the game didn’t disappoint with Lauren O’Leary and Alyssa Fuimaono blanking opposing batters by allowing a combined six hits during the game.
The only mistake by either pitcher came in third inning to Anna Edwards on a 0-2 pitch. Edwards fought off one pitch by Fuimaono to get another shot at the plate. The next pitch from Fuimaono was fatal as Edwards connected and blasted a shot to right-centerfield for a solo home run.
After the Edwards homer, O’Leary cruised through the final five-innings by retiring 13 straight batters and only surrendering one single to the final 16 batters she faced. O’Leary scattered three hits for the entire game.
The Spartans nearly took the lead in the opening inning.
Kelsey Drange reached on a fielder’s choice and Catherine Horner doubled to right-center to give La Canada runners on second and third with one out. Fuimaono walked Megan Siepler to load the bases. Fuimaono struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
The biggest threat for Beaumont came in its bottom of the first inning with one out. Arianna Espinoza reached on an error and advanced on a single by Fuimaono before Kristin Neal grounded out to short for the final out of the inning.
O’Leary finished the game striking out eight Cougars and walking none.
During the postseason O’Leary only allowed just three runs.
La Canada's Anna Edwards is all smiles in her HR trot. (Photo by Anne Cypress)
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