TEMECULA — On their home field, with a 7-game win streak setting the tone, the ladies of the Great Oak softball had one mission, finish off their regular season with a win over Temecula Valley. That win would give them a share of this year’s Southwestern League title, alongside Murrieta Mesa (12-3). Great Oak is no stranger to earning a Southwestern League title after winning it outright back in 2016.
Unfortunately for the Lady Rams, they had to forfeit both their games this week to Vista Murrieta due to an over scheduling error of preseason games. By the time the error was caught, the Lady Rams only had league conference games remaining on their schedule, and two would have to be forfeited.
Great Oak (12-3) dropped two games to Murrieta Mesa this season but did get the best of the Lady Rams in their first meeting earlier this year, winning 3-1. Because Great Oak had two wins over Vista Murrieta, who now had two forfeit wins over Murrieta Mesa, the Lady Wolfpack squad needed to win out. They did just that and claimed their share of this year’s SWL title by winning their final two games this week against Temecula Valley, 11-0, and 7-1.
Five Great Oak runs in the first inning Thursday, April 28, put the early pressure on the Temecula Valley offense to compete. The Lady Golden Bears were up for the challenge but could only muster three hits throughout the day against Miali Gauchino, the Lady Wolfpack’s sophomore ace. Gauchino went five and a third innings, allowing just one run with fourteen strikeouts.
With their eighth straight win, Great Oak scattered eleven hits in the game. Bella Mejia and Ramsey Saurez (UCLA commit) each racked up multiple hits for the Lady Wolfpack, both with two hits apiece. Temecula Valley ended their season with an 8-14 overall record, going 5-10 in the Southwestern League.
CIF Southern Section softball postseason brackets were released Saturday, April 30, for all divisions, and in the Southwestern League Murrieta Mesa opens the Division 1 playoffs at home against Ayala, Great Oak will be on the road at Pacifica, and Vista Murrieta will travel to face Villa Park. Round one game times are set for Thursday, May 5, at 3:15 p.m.
JP Raineri can be reached by email at sports@reedermedia.com.
