Long Beach Poly softball tops Harvard-Westlake in high-scoring semifinal

ENCINO — Long Beach Poly softball is going to the CIF-SS Division 4 championship game after a 13-12 win over Harvard-Westlake in the semifinals Saturday.

This is Poly’s first time making it past the quarterfinals.

“I thought it was a great game,” Harvard-Westlake coach Leesa Harris said. “I thought they battled, we battled. Ultimately, it just came down to who made the least amount of mistakes.”

Poly took an early lead as freshman Bailey Holder hit a fly out to right field to bring in senior Star T. Sepulveda in the top of the first inning.

The Wolverines were quick to answer as junior Peyton Perriott hit a double to bring in two runs and end the first inning ahead 2-1.

Harvard-Westlake junior Kale’a Tindal extended the lead with a two-run home run that also brought in junior Emma Tseng for a 4-1 score.

Long Beach Poly brought in sophomore Tegan Breaux to pitch. Junior Ainsley Nutting didn’t flinch as she followed with her own double to bring in sophomore Fischer Hinnen before the Jackrabbits shut down the second inning.

“Going down early in the game was tough,” Jackrabbits coach Elizabeth Sanches-Martin said, “but I’m glad we went down early in the game so that way we had an opportunity to respond. But our bats have been really hot during playoffs.”

The Jackrabbits cut into their deficit as junior Ki’ele Ho-Ching hit a home run to raise the score to 5-3.

Junior Janelle Morris kept the Poly bats singing as she hit a double down the left field line to bring in senior Kween Tauala. Junior Alayna Veavealagi paid it forward with a sacrifice hit to bring in Morris and tie the game.

Sophomore Sunnie Vaafuti finished with a hit to left field to take the lead 6-5.

Long Beach Poly continued its momentum with another home run by Morris to bring the lead to 8-5.

The Wolverines answered with their own home run by Tindal to cut the deficit to 8-6.

The Jackrabbits barely batted an eye as junior Emoni Lam Sam hit a double to bring in Vaafuti. After two walks, the bases were loaded. Wolverines junior pitcher Morgan Hill felt the heat and hit a batter to bring in a run for Poly.

The Jackrabbits continued to climb with a single off Holder’s bat, raising the score to 12-6.

The Wolverines tried to answer, but Breaux shut them down. Harvard-Westlake returned the favor. At the bottom of the sixth, Tindal scored on a fielding error.

The Jackrabbits were determined to keep their lead as Ho-Ching hit a home run to raise the score to 13-7.

The Wolverines’ refused to fold, with one hit and two fielding errors, bases were loaded. Tindal and Hinnen each hit a single to bring in runs and close the gap at 13-9.

Nutting followed with her own hit and junior Dylan Fischer doubled to raise the score to 13-12.

Breaux managed to stay calm and with her team at her back, the Jackrabbits got the final out they needed to end the game.

The Jackrabbits tallied 12 hits to the Wolverines’ 14.