When the Mater Dei Catholic High School girls softball team shaded the visiting Bonita Vista Barons by a 2-1 score on April 15, it was more than just a feather in the cap for the Lady Crusaders. It was a watershed moment for the MDCHS program, according to head coach Mike Centrullo.
“I’ve been coaching here for 16 years and we started playing Bonita Vista two or three years into my coaching career, and we’ve been in the same league with them for the past few years, but we had never beaten them in a game until now,” Centrullo explained.
“A couple of times we had been close but weren’t able to do it. (But) I think our program has advanced through the years. The Metro-Mesa League has got some tough teams but Bonita Vista, I think, has been the premier team for a number of years. They always seem to be one of the top teams in the county and in their division. Whenever you can beat a team of Bonita Vista’s caliber, it’s a good solid win for your program. They’re one of the best coached teams in San Diego County.”
The Crusaders (16-5-1) are certainly no slouch on the softball diamond, either. Mater Dei Catholic has won five consecutive San Diego Section division championships, though in lower competition tiers than the Barons.
Bonita Vista won the 2012 Division II championship title and placed runner-up in both the 2011 and 2013 Division II finals, and placed second in last year’s Open Division title game.
Mater Dei Catholic won Division IV titles in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 and followed that up with the Division II championship last May.
The April 15 match-up between longtime CIF heavyweights was the league opener for both teams.
Alexis Morales scored both Mater Dei Catholic runs in the game. In the fifth inning, Morales singled, advanced to second base on a sacrifice and went to third base on a passed ball. She then scored on a base hit by Alana Burges Campbell.
The Barons tied the score with a run in the top of the sixth inning on a double by Lani Graft.
The game went into the bottom of the seventh inning tied, 1-1, before the Crusaders scored the decisive run in the tightly played contest.
Morales reached base on another single and the hosts proceeded to load the bases before pitcher Kellie White scored Morales on a walk-off sacrifice fly to deep center field.
White, who improved to 12-4 on the season, pitched a complete game, allowing two hits while striking out six batters.
Burges-Campbell finished 3-for-3 in the game while Morales went 2-for-3 at the plate.
Mia Marinakis took the loss in the pitching circle for Bonita Vista, which fell to 0-1 in league, 11-3-1 overall.
The Crusaders improved to 2-0 in league play by defeating host Otay Ranch, 2-1, last Friday afternoon. Mater Dei Catholic improved to 3-0 in league play after edging visiting Olympian, 5-4, on Wednesday.
Prior to entering league play, Mater Dei Catholic captured the championship title of the 32nd annual Hilltop tournament. White earned tournament MVP honors while teammates Anissa Carrillo and Reyna Jamison also earned selection to the all-tournament team.
The Crusaders finished 6-0 in the 16-team tournament, defeating Southwest El Centro (4-0 in the quarterfinals), Scripps Ranch (5-0 in the semifinals) and Otay Ranch (18-6 in the championship game).
Kelsey Munoz leads MDCHS with a .439 hitting average in 20 games played, followed by Carrillo (.431), Burges-Campbell (.400), White (.390), Jamison (.321), Amorette Hernandez (.256) and Eva Gonzales (.254).
Carrillo topped the team with 16 RBI, six doubles and two home runs. Gonzales ranked second with 12 RBI, followed by Munoz, Sophie Herrera and Jamison with 11 each.
White sported a 0.93 earned-run average with 88 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched.
What’s next for the Crusaders?
Both Mater Dei Catholic and Bonita Vista are bidding for berths in either the section’s Open Division or Division I playoff fields. Entering the week, Bonita Vista sat in the No. 2 position in the power rankings while Mater Dei Catholic was No. 9. The top eight teams will be included in the Open Division playoffs.
“We played a tough schedule at the start of the season,” Centrullo underscored. “We’re finally prepared. We’re settling in, finding our identity. Every year you have to find yourself. We have a mix of returning players and young players. The experience is kicking in and the younger players are finding themselves. We’re learning how to win.
“These games against Bonita Vista and Otay Ranch have given us confidence that we can win the close games.
“For the future, we want to stay on the course we’re on. If we fall into Division I for the playoffs, we will do our best to win another championship, and if we fall into the Open Division, we’re not going to shy away from anyone.”
Extra bases
Otay Ranch (13-11 overall) opened league play on April 15 with a 7-2 win at Olympian. Josie Bachtell recorded the win in the pitching circle while Kalalaelisa Toomalatau went 2-for-4 with three RBI and Hazel Diaz went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs. Bachtell scattered 11 hits while striking out just two batters.
Olympian’s Isabella Leon went 2-for-4 with a home run while Justine Federe went 2-for-4 with a double, scoring teammate Madison Nafarette. Freshmen Mecca Godinez and Sydney Sanchez combined to give up nine hits to the Mustangs.
Hilltop All-Tournament Team
Mater Dei Catholic: Kellie White, Anisssa Carrillo, Reyna Jamison
Otay Ranch: Erica Rodriguez, Desiree Luguin, Lola Toomalatau
Scripps Ranch: Makayla Martin, Delaney Kelly
Clairemont: Sara Crawford, Yazzy Jameson
Most Valuable Player: Kellie White (Mater Dei Catholic)
