Daily News softball: Previews of Saturday’s CIF-SS and City Section championship games
The CIF Southern Section and CIF Los Angeles City Section championship games are taking place this weekend and multiple teams from the Daily News coverage area will be vying for a title.
Here’s a look at each team’s championship matchup:
SATURDAY’S GAMES
CIF SOUTHERN SECTION
DIVISION 6
Viewpoint vs. Ganesha at Deanna Manning Stadium, Irvine, 1 p.m.
The Gold Coast League champions will face unbeaten Ganesha (21-0) and are led offensively by junior Carly Nelson’s .615 batting average. Sophomores Emjay Peck and Anniston Aragon are also hitting above .500 for Viewpoint (17-2-1) and Peck has 23 RBIs and five home runs. Peck also has a 17-2 record in the circle and owns a 0.58 ERA in 119 2/3 innings. Ganesha has shut out 14 of its opponents behind pitcher Kalena Lemus (14-0) and her 0.71 ERA.
DIVISION 4
Paraclete vs. North at Deanna Manning Stadium, Irvine, 4 p.m.
Paraclete head coach Margaret Neill is going for her third CIF-SS title since taking over as head coach of the team in 1980. The Spirits (29-2) were the Del Rey LEague champions this season and beat Burbank, San Marcos, La Quinta and Orange Vista to reach the championship game. Sophomore Jade Jorrin has driven in a team-high 44 RBIs and is hitting .437 for JW North (17-13).
L.A. CITY SECTION
DIVISION II
Chatsworth vs. Marquez at Long Beach State, 1 p.m.
The Chancellors (13-13-1) have allowed only two runs in their three playoff games and shut out Lincoln 18-0 to begin their postseason run. Sophomore Lila Mashhoud leads the team in batting average (.479), on-base percentage (.525) and RBIs (24). Marquez (20-4) won the Southern League title and sophomore Delilah Sanchez is pacing the team with a .846 batting average and 50 RBIs. Freshman Darla Sanchez has stolen 38 bases.
DIVISION 1
Kennedy vs. Garfield at Long Beach State, 4 p.m.
Kennedy (18-8) is this season’s Valley Mission League champion. Mel Velasco is slashing .514/.737/1.181 with 13 RBIs for the Cougars, who beat Poly, Eagle Rock and Palisades in the playoffs. Bella Garcia has a team-best 14 RBIs and has hit four home runs for Garfield (19-5).
OPEN DIVISION
Granada Hills Charter vs. Carson at Long Beach State, 7 p.m.
Carson beat Granada Hills Charter in the 2023 Open Division championship, but the Highlanders (28-2) have a solid chance at getting revenge this time around. Pitcher Addison Moorman, a Lehigh commit, is 13-1 with a 1.31 ERA. She’s surrendered only 22 runs. Ten different players have hit a home run and eight of them have hit multiple home runs this season. Any hitter could come up big for Granada Hills, but Jeannette Camarena has a team-high 34 RBIs and Lainey Brown is right behind her with 33 RBIs. Carson (17-7-2) has many strong hitters, but Ashannalee Titialii leads them all with a .549 batting average and a .584 on-base percentage.