Two all-girls Catholic schools have reached the semifinals of the CIF-Southern Section Softball Tournament, after posting quarterfinal victories on May 9.
Eighth-seeded Louisville of Woodland Hills (14-9) upset No. 2 Grace Brethren 1-0 in the Division 5 quarterfinals, led by sophomore Grace Luderer who pitched a shutout and blasted a fifth-inning homerun. The Royals — who lost in the 2016 D-5 final — will play at No. 3 Whittier Christian (23-3) on May 14, 3:15 p.m.
In Division 7, third-seeded Mayfield of Pasadena (13-8) slugged four homeruns, two by Julia Domingo, in a 21-8 rout of the Academy of Academic Excellence in Apple Valley. The Cubs — who have outscored their opponents 51-9 in their three playoff wins — will host Westridge (12-7) in the May 14 semifinals, 3:15 p.m.
Two other Catholic schools weren’t as fortunate in the quarterfinals. In Division 1, seventh-seeded Santa Margarita (25-4) ended its season with an 8-7 loss to No. 2 Great Oak, while in D-5 sixth-seeded Flintridge Sacred Heart (18-6) was blanked 6-0 by No. 5 Redondo Union.
The finals will be played May 17 and 18 in Irvine.
Mike Nelson is the former editor of The Tidings (predecessor of Angelus News).
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