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Los Alamitos celebrates their win over JSerra in CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs Friday May 30, 2025 in Irvine.(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
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Los Alamitos celebrates their win over JSerra in CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs Friday May 30, 2025 in Irvine.(Photo by Greg Andersen, Contributing Photographer)
IRVINE — Los Alamitos’ softball team came about as close as possible to losing to JSerra in the bottom of the seventh inning of a dramatic CIF-SS Division 2 championship game Friday.
The Griffins escaped with a defensive play for the ages, and secured their reward a few innings later.
Cienna Kowaleski hit a two-run home run to highlight a three-run 10th inning and freshman Jaliane Brooks pitched a complete game as Los Alamitos defeated JSerra 3-0 at Deanna Manning Stadium.
The Griffins (21-12) forced extra innings in the bottom of the seventh when shortstop Kalie Matsuno threw out the potential winning run at the plate for the final out off a relay from the outfield.
“Things can happen in a split second and a tide can turn at any time,” said Los Alamitos coach Rob Weil, who won his seventh section title to tie Norco’s Rick Robinson for most by a section softball coach.
“I thought that was a huge momentum breaker for (JSerra) and a huge momentum (boost) for us getting that play at the plate.”
In its first section final, JSerra (19-14) found a spark in the seventh with a two-out single by No. 9 hitter and freshman Ava Van Heerde. Leadoff batter Brooke Stephens, one of the Lions’ two senior starters, then drove a ball into the gap in left center.
Los Alamitos defense sprung into action. Center fielder Alivia Magallanes raced to the ball and threw to Matsuno. The Florida-committed senior fired the relay to New Mexico-bound catcher Allysen Pitcox, who applied the tag in a close play.
“I just knew I had to get the ball out as quick as I can,” Matsuno said of the throw. “We practice this every day at practice. … I knew we could do it. We all trust each other so much to where we just had to play for each other.”
Said Pitcox of the tag, “I knew I had her.”
Alivia Magallanes, Los Alamitos’ No. 9 hitter, opened the 10th with an infield single against JSerra ace Liliana Escobar. With one out, the Griffins snapped the scoreless tie with Matsuno driving a ball to the gap in right center. The Lions’ throw to third base got away to allow Magallanes to score from first base.
One batter later, the Santa Clara-bound Kowaleski launched an opposite-field home run to left to make it 3-0.
The runs were Los Alamitos’ first in 16 innings against Escobar, who pitched a six-inning shutout against the Griffins earlier in the season.
Brooks quickly retired JSerra in the bottom of the 10th to complete the longest outing of her young career.
What a game! Los Al beats JSerra 3-0 in 10! pic.twitter.com/Dap7tqBF2d
— Dan Albano (@ocvarsityguy) May 31, 2025
“I knew what was at stake,” said Brooks, who scattered nine hits and struck out five. “I knew I had to lock in.”
Weil said of Brooks, “She’s got ice in her veins. She hits spots. She’s not afraid to go right at batters. … (One) of the most well-composed freshman I’ve coached.”
Escobar, a junior, allowed nine hits and struck out 16.
“She’s a competitor and she’s been our go-to all season,” JSerra coach Katie Stith said of Escobar. “We’ve really battled and we played very, very well. … But I think it matters when you’ve played in this environment.”
