- McCormick’s 1-hitter lifts Foothillers
- 2025 Flag Football Standings/Team Pix
- By inches, Pat. Henry grabs Western lead
- Community Colleeges: February 16-22
- Stars win opener at NBC World Series
- ROUND UP: Wolf Pack Take Down Eastlake
- Woodland’s Gem Propels Helix
- Patriots out-slug Vaqs to claim opener
- Rain Doesn’t Stop Wolf Pack
- Gallery: Boys Hoops – Week 10
- Vaqs continue qinning ways In tight contest
- VALLEY: Sultans finish undefeated season
- It takes the Pack to sweep Scotties
- Mujica & Co. keep rolling, win convincingly
- Singer retires again from coaching
- DIII: Southwest Eagles soar to championship
- 2018 EAST COUNTY SOFTBALL Schedule / Scores / Standings
- DV: LIONS ROAR TO CHAMPIONSHIP
- Williams, Vaqueros sweep into D3 final
- D2: After walk-off thrill, Sultans slump
Christian softball clipped at finish line
- Updated: April 19, 2026
2026 EAST COUNTY PREP SOFTBALL
EastCountySports.com
CHULA VISTA – The Christian Patriots were just three outs away from securing what would have been one of the biggest upsets in CIF-San Diego Section softball this season against top-ranked Mater Dei Catholic.
However, the elusive final out never came.
The No. 1 Crusaders (18-2 overall, 15-1 vs. CIFSDS competition), trailing 2-0, rallied with three RBI singles in the bottom of the seventh inning to hand the Patriots a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in South Bay action on Saturday (Apr. 18).
Through six innings, Mater Dei Catholic had already collected eight hits but failed to score, while Christian’s two runs in the fourth inning appeared to be enough.
Patriots catcher Samantha Baca delivered a two-run line single to right field, scoring both Lily Reyes (leadoff single) and Pressly Villalva (hit by pitch). The runners advanced into scoring position on a productive groundout to the right side by Alyssa McCurty before Baca came through with the clutch one-out hit.
Mater Dei Catholic’s comeback began with a somewhat unconventional approach.
Following a leadoff single by Bella Harris, the Crusaders opted for a sacrifice bunt despite trailing by two runs. Ari Larios successfully moved the runner over, and Arri Romero followed with an RBI single to score Harris, ending McCurty’s shutout bid.
Cleanup hitter Maya Matthies added another single, but Christian recorded the next two outs, leaving the Crusaders down to their final out.
From there, Mater Dei Catholic completed the rally. Sunny Sos delivered the game-tying RBI single, and Ashiya Blaney followed with a hard ground ball up the middle for the walk-off hit.
Christian (7-10-1), which has now dropped four straight games, returns to Western League play on Wednesday, hosting Patrick Henry (8-9-1) at Roma Dawson Field at 4 p.m.
— Nick Pellegrino
