#Kalena Lemus tosses 1-hitter as Ganesha softball beats Ontario for Division 7 title – Press Enterprise #Usa #Miami #Nyc #Houston #Uk #Es

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IRVINE — Kalena Lemus had to dodge a line drive back up the middle on her sixth pitch of the game.

But that was one of the few balls the Ontario softball team managed to square up Saturday morning.

Lemus did not allow another hit and finished the game with nine strikeouts as Ganesha cruised to a 5-0 win over the top-seeded Jaguars in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship game at Barber Park.

It is the first section championship for the Ganesha softball program, which displayed dominance from the very start of the season. The No. 2-seeded Giants (16-0) have outscored the opposition 219-6 this year.

“It has been a really great season, and these girls came together and played well,” Ganesha coach Trish Joines said, “Everyone contributed to this championship and had their big moments this season.”

This was a team filled with new faces, including nine transfers and two freshmen. Joines said it took a couple of weeks for the chemistry to take hold. Once it did, however, the Giants rolled.

“We all had the same goals, and that made it easier for us to come together,” Lemus said. “We’re doing what we set out to do. We won league and CIF. Now we’l try to win (the) state (regional).”

Ontario (16-9) had a positive start against Lemus, as Laylonie Martinez ripped a single through the circle. Lemus got out of the inning unscathed and set down 11 of 12 batters during one strecth.

Ganesha grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an inside-the-park home run by freshman first baseman Savanah Duncan. Ontario right fielder Alaiza Lopez tried to make a diving catch. The ball rolled to the fence, and Duncan sped around the bases.

“That felt great, especially since I didn’t have the best performance last game,” Duncan said, referring to a 1-for-5 effort in the semifinals against Tahquitz. “I just ran as fast as I could.”

Ganesha tacked on three more runs in the third inning. Mikaylah Martinez roped a double into the gap in left-center field to drive in a pair of runs, and Jayden Tomura singled home Martinez.

“We were trying to figure out the pitcher that first time through the order,” Joines said. “The girls were communicating with each other about what to expect. They just work so well together.”

A pair of errors by Ganesha during the fifth inning gave Ontario its best chance to break through. Lemus wasn’t fazed, however, as she retired three straight batters to strand runners at second and third.

Lemus only had three three-ball counts in the game. Two of those came in the sixth inning, when she walked back-to-back hitters with two outs. She retired the final four batters to complete the one-hitter.

“I think it was a little bit of excitement, and a little bit of fear,” Lemus said of that brief control issue. “I just had to calm down. I have to credit my teammates with helping me do that.”

Anabelle Gonzalez tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning for Ganesha’s final run.

Ontario had a couple of defensive gems during the game. Shortstop Sofia Femath made a great stab up the middle for a double play in the fifth inning. Emily Moreno made a running catch in left field to take away extra bases in the sixth.

Undefeated Ganesha baseball team wins first CIF-SS championship

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