The Last Inning (May 20, 2022): A Closer Look at This Weekend’s High School Championships in Southern California Plus Team USA Adds More for Colorado

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Here’s our TLI for Friday, May 20, 2022:

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CIF-SOUTHERN SECTION FINALS PREVIEWS

DIVISION 3

TESORO (20-11) OF LAS FLORES, CA, VS, BONITA (26-5-1) OF LA VERNE, CA

When, where: Friday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 12:30 p.m.

Outlook: Tesoro hasn’t been to the finals since winning the Division 3 championship in 2009. Bonita is in the finals for the first time since reaching the Division 1-A championship game in 1979 and is seeking its first CIF-SS title in three chances. The top-seeded Bearcats are led by 2024 P/1B Brooklyn Shroyer (20-2, 1.00 ERA, 202 Ks in 139.1 IP) in the circle and 2022 1B/3B Hailey Marquez (.380 AVG, 3 HRs, 25 RBIs) on offense. The top players for the Titans are 2024 2B Kiara Cisneros (.408 AVG), 2024 C Kennedy Proctor (.386) and 2022 P/OF Kennedy Hobson (2.22 ERA, .341 AVG) and 2025 P/1B Loula-Rae McNamara (1.36 ERA).

DIVISION 4

MOORPARK (23-4), CA, VS. TEMPLE CITY (23-6), CA

When, where: Friday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 3:30 p.m.

Outlook: Moorparks is in the finals for the first time since reached the Division 5 title game in 1996. The top-seeded Muskateers are led by 2022 CF Madison Zulager (.433 AVG, 12 HRs, 31 runs, 37 RBIs) and the top pitchers are 2024 P/1B Madison Finnerty (14-2, 0.84 ERA, 192 Ks in 111.1 IP) and 2024 P/RF Taylor Cook (9-2. 1.82 ERA, 119 Ks in 61.2 IP). Finnerty threw a perfect game with 13 strikeouts in a 5-0 semifinal win over Heritage Christian of Northridge. Temple City is in the finals for the first time. The Rams are led by 2024 RHP Kassandra Gewecke (15-1, 0.08 ERA, 150 Ks in 90.2 IP) and 2024 C/UT Samantha Womack (.378 AVG, 6 HRs, 29 runs, 30 RBIs).

DIVISION 2

MILLIKAN (22-10) OF LONG BEACH, CA, VS. MISSION VIEJO (25-5), CA

When, where: Friday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 6:30 p.m.

Outlook: Mission Viejo is in the finals for the finals for the first time since makings three straight trips to the finals from 2014-16 and winning Division 2 titles in 2014 and 2016. 2024 P Sofia Elliott (19-3, 1.80 ERA, 132 Ks, .453 AVG, 16 HRs, 45 RBIs), #48 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, Maryland-bound SS Sammi Woods (.442 AVG, 41 runs, 15 RBIs) and 2025 3B Kara King (.376 AVG, 20 RBIs, 21 runs), Chattanooga-bound CF Shayna Glass (.300 AVG, 18 runs, 20 RBIs) and 2023 1B Sydney Denser (.313 AVG, 14 RBIs, 18 runs) lead the Diablos. Millikan is in the finals for the first time since winning the Division 3 championship in 2005. The Rams are led by 2024 P Ava Schaffel (1.90 ERA, 84.2 IP), 2023 3B Arianna Ramirez (.451 AVG, .469 OBP, 1.258 OPS) and 2024 LF Lela Asi (.409 AVG, .552 OBP, 1.279 OPS).

DIVISION 7

CAPISTRANO VALLEY CHRISTIAN (26-1) OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CA, VS. LINFIELD CHRISTIAN OF TEMECULA, CA

When, where: Saturday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 9:30 a.m.

Outlook: CVC is in the finals for the first time in school history. The Eagles’ high-powered offense features 2022 SS/P Natalie Gleason (.711 AVG, 20 doubles, 18 HRs, 64 runs, 71 RBIs), 2025 1B/P Katelynn Cammarato (.475 AVG, 10 doubles, 30 RBIs) and 2025 P/2B Kylee Cammarato (10-0. 1.68 ERA, .484, 16 doubles, 45 RBIs). Linfield Christian was considered the Norco of small schools between the mid-1990s and early 2000s. The Lions are making their 10th appearance in the finals and first since winning the Division 6 title in 2001. They have won five CIF-SS championship titles.

DIVISION 5

EL TORO (20-9) OF LAKE FOREST, CA, VS. CAJON (23-6) OF SAN BERNARDINO, CA

When, where: Saturday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 12:30 p.m.

Outlook: El Toro is in the finals for the first time since winning the Division 3-A championship in 1990. The Chargers are led by 2024 P/1B Kylie Loertscher (14-3, 0.90 ERA, .389 AVG, 21 RBIs) and 2023 OF MacKenzie Ward (.298 AVG, 21 RBIs). Cajon’s last trip to the finals was in 2006 when it won the Division 3 championship and it reached the Division 4 title game in 1995. The Cowboys top pitcher is 2024 P Jade Villegas (19-5, 0.96 ERA, 207 Ks in 146 IP) and their top hitter is 2022 CF/IF Vanessa Flores (.417 AVG, 9 doubles, 8 HRs, 20 RBIs).

DIVISION 6

HILLCREST OF RIVERSIDE, CA, VS, ELISNORE OF WILDOMAR, CA

When, where: Saturday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 3:30 p.m.

Outlook: Both teams are in the finals for the first time in school history. Hillcrest is a second-place team from the River Valley League and features 2024 P Mattison Beliveau (10-0, 1.35 ERA, 161 Ks in 98.2 IP) and 2025 SS Melody Acevedo (.500 AVG, 18 doubles, 5 triples, 10 HRs, 39 RBIs). Elsinore is a second-place team from the Inland Valley League and features 2023 P/OF/IF Nakiya Logan (7-3, 0.74 ERA, 113 Ks in 94 IP, .493 AVG, 11 doubles).

DIVISION 1

LOS ALAMITOS, CA, VS, ROOSEVELT OF EASTVALE, CA

When, where: Saturday, Bill Barber Park in Irvine, CA, 6:30 p.m.

Outlook: History will be made in this game (unless there is a tie). Roosevelt coach Mike Smith is trying to become the first coach in CIF-SS history to lead three different teams to CIF-SS titles. He helped Chino Hills (2005) and Chino (2012, 2013) win titles. Roosevelt is making its second consecutive appearance in the Division 1 final. The Mustangs lost to Esperanza of Anaheim, 3-2, in last year’s Division 1 championship game. Los Alamitos coach Rob Weil is trying to tie Norco coach Rick Robinson as the second CIF-SS coach to win seven CIF-SS titles. Weil led Pacifica (1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2004) and Los Alamitos (2017) to CIF-SS championships. The Griffins last trip to the finals was in 2017 when they beat Norco, 3-1, in the Division 1 championship game. Roosevelt is led by 2024 SS Kaylinn Jones (.505, 37 runs), 2024 P Priscilla Llamas (13-1, .475, 7 HRs, 36 RBIs), Cal Baptist-bound 3B/C/UT Kayla Lyon (.416, 11 HRs, 43 RBIs) and Cal State Fullerton-bound C Alexia Lopez (33 RBIs). 2022 1B Taylor Johnson (.453 AVG, ,578 OBP, .791 SLG, 26 RBIs) is Los Alamitos’ leading hitter.

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NEWS & NOTES

***Atlanta Vipers 2924-Neleman 3B Hannah Cornetto, #68 in the 2024 Extra Elite 100, Indiana Bombers 16U-Poeck C/SS Elsa Morrison, #90 in the 2025 Extra Elite 100, BSC Bengals 14U-Greene 2025 C/3B Maddie McSorley and Tampa Mustangs-Viruet SS/OF Anabela Abdullah, #14 in the 2026 Extra Elite 100, were selected to represent Team USA at the 16U Triple Crown International Challenge June 24-26 in Colorado.

🚨Roster Highlight 🚨 Announcing the first 4 members of 16u Team USA who are playing in the TC International Challenge! 🇺🇸🌏🥎#COSparkFire #IPlayTCS
Check out the Roster 👉 https://t.co/pOOBmja2oy pic.twitter.com/Jdt2EFxkH9

— CO 4th of July (@COSparkFire) May 20, 2022

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BTITW

Today’s Best Thing In the World is …

One week until #ObiWanKenobi starts streaming on @DisneyPlus. pic.twitter.com/65wsCPlXoG

— Obi-Wan Kenobi (@obiwankenobi) May 20, 2022