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Oxford Academy athletic director Dave Clifton can feel the excitement on campus about the Patriots’ run to the CIF-SS softball finals this week.
“Every teacher I walk by gives me a first bump and the girls are saying the same thing,” said Clifton, also an assistant coach for the team.
Yes, interest is building in Orange County softball circles as Oxford Academy, Orange Lutheran and Pacifica have advanced to this week’s championships in Irvine.
Orange Lutheran (21-3) and Pacifica (26-2) are set to square off Friday in the first all-Orange County Division 1 final since 2016 when they meet at Deanna Manning Stadium at Bill Barber Marine Corps Memorial Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m.
On Saturday morning, Oxford Academy (25-5) will appear in its first section final when it takes on Eastside of Lancaster (22-10) in Division 7. The game is scheduled for 10 a.m.
Tickets for the final can only be purchased online at GoFan.co. General admission is $12 and students/children are $5. Parking is free both days.
Deanna Manning Stadium will host a total of eight finals on Friday and Saturday but for local fans, the all-county matchup might hold the most intrigue.
It’s a showdown of the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked teams in Orange County, and the No. 1 and No. 2 seeded teams in the division.
Orange Lutheran is No. 1 in both polls while Pacifica is No. 2 and the defending Division 1 champion.
And if that’s not enough intrigue, the teams split their two games in the regular season.
“It’s going to be a great battle,” said Capistrano Valley coach Freddy Gomez, whose Cougars played both teams.
Both schools have star-studded lineups, especially in the pitching department.
Orange Lutheran is led by senior left-hander Brianne Weiss (19-1) while Pacifica is anchored by senior right-hander Brynne Nally (21-2).
Gomez believes batters from both teams will need to do their homework in preparing for Weiss, a Notre Dame signee, and Nally, a Long Beach State signee.
“It’s going to be a great pitchers’ fest and whoever can make the most adjustments to the pitchers (will have an advantage),” Gomez said. “It’s going to be an exciting game.”
Both offenses are deep and fast.
Orange Lutheran, the Trinity League champion, is averaging 10.3 runs in the playoffs. Empire League champion Pacifica is averaging 6.0 runs in the postseason.
The Lancers feature Oklahoma committed junior Kai Minor in the No. 3 spot in their batting order. The Mariners counter with UCLA-bound shortstop Kaniya Bragg.
The last all-county finale in Division 1 featured some offense. Mater Dei defeated Orange Lutheran 8-2 in 2016.
Oxford Academy, an at-large team from the 605 League, is the top seed in Division 7.
Coach Bob Whitney’s squad opened the season by winning its first 17 games. After placing fourth in the 605 League, the Patriots have outscored their four playoff opponents 52-11. They’re averaging 13.0 runs a game.
Oxford Academy, part of the Anaheim Union district, has blended top senior hitters such as Ella Pace (.618) and Monique Rojas (.515) with the pitching of freshman Emily Ganguly (22-4).
The Patriots’ championship aspirations with week aren’t limited to only softball. The school’s baseball team plays Tuesday at Desert Christian of Lancaster in the Division 7 semifinals.
“(We’re) hoping to make it two finals,” Clifton said.
Orange Lutheran is trying for the same feat on the diamond. The Lancers’ baseball team plays host to Harvard-Westlake in the Division 1 semifinals on Tuesday night at Hart Park in Orange.
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