LONG BEACH — The Millikan softball team suffered a heartbreaking loss to Mater Dei 5-4 in nine innings at home in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 2 playoffs Thursday.
Millikan (20-9) was led by senior left fielder Lela Asi who hit an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth inning that tied the game at 2.
Millikan’s Kayla Cisneros is safe at second as Mater Deis Cat Kawabe and Elle McCloskey were trying to get the out in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Ava Schaffel gets things going for the Rams as they take on Mater Dei in Long Beach, CA, on Thursday, May 2, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Morgan Zimmerman looks to get the out at first as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Jocelyn Owen takes the plate as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Jaelyn Toledo tags out Millikans Riley McAndrew in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Morgan Zimmerman looks to get the out at first as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Kayla Cisneros gets the out as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Julia JuJu Dixon turns to make a play at first as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Kayla Cisneros scores a run for the Rams as they take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Liana Lopez looks for her chance to score as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Aly Carrillo makes the catch as the Monarchs take on Millikan in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Mariah Peters was looking to tag out Millikans Kayla Cisneros at third in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Jocelyn Owen and Morgan Zimmerman collide as Zimmerman gets the out as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Riley McAndrew looks to get the out as the Rams take on Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Cat Kawabe gets the out as they taken Millikan in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei players celebrate as they score multiple runs in their last at bat to take the lead over Millikan in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Millikan’s Desiree Melena and her team turn their visors up to rally at the end of the game against Mater Dei in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
Mater Dei’s Cat Kawabe turns to get the out at first as they take on Millikan in the CIF-SS D2 playoffs in Long Beach, CA, on Wednesday, May 1, 2024. (Photo by Tracey Roman, Contributing Photographer)
However, the Monarchs scored three runs in the top of the ninth inning to go up 5-2.
The Rams capitalized on a Mater Dei throwing error to first base and pushed two runs across in the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs. At that point, Millikan trailed 5-4.
Junior catcher Jocelyn Owen grounded out to end the game and the team’s historic season, which was highlighted by winning the program’s fourth consecutive Moore League title.
“It was a really hard game to lose but it was a hard-fought battle,” Millikan coach Michelle Lehr. “I’m proud of the girls. Obviously, we would have loved to have had the win, but when you see your team fight like the way they did … (and) Ava (Schaffel) go out there and throw nine innings. When you lose you just don’t know what to say. We had moments that we could have taken the lead. We had moments where we could have ended the game, but we fell short. We didn’t take advantage of the moment.”
The game was tied at 1 after seven innings.
An RBI by senior catcher Jayleen Scott put the Monarchs up 2-1 in the top of the eighth inning.
“It took every single person we had on our roster,” Mater Dei coach Nicole Thomas said. “We used so many athletes and every time they got subbed in they did exactly what they needed to. Our seniors stepped up and at this time of season, it’s hard because you don’t know what’s going to happen and they wanted it so bad. We wanted it more than them.”
Mater Dei (12-11) was led by senior second baseman Cat Kawabe who went 3 for 3 with a home run with two RBIs, including a clutch RBI single in the ninth.
“That’s classic Mater Dei softball,” said Kawabe, who has signed to play softball at Tufts University. “I can’t remember how many games we’ve gone into extra innings but I never lost faith. I knew our pitchers Citlaly (Valencia) and Sierra (Acosta) were going to close it down for us.”
Kawabe’s home run over the center field fence tied the game at 1 in the top of the fifth inning.
“It felt really good honestly,” Kawabe continued. “After the inning where they scored, we came out and I felt like I was on this pitcher today. I saw the ball and I just went with it.”
Millikan second baseman Riley McAndrew had an RBI single that scored right fielder Kayla Cisneros in the bottom of the fourth inning to put the Rams up 1-0.
Schaffel, a San Diego State signee, allowed eight hits, three earned runs, two walks and had six strikeouts over nine innings.
The Monarchs will host El Modena in the second round on Tuesday.
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