NORCO – About an hour before first pitch in their Thursday, May 11, CIF-SS Division 1 semifinal softball game, Norco coach Rick Robinson was full of praise for the Murrieta Mesa offense, saying they had one of the top lineups in Southern California.

Marley Goluskin was tasked with shutting that lineup down after struggling against the Rams 366 days ago in a 12-8 loss. In the rematch she was brilliant, holding Murrieta Mesa (24-4-1) to just three hits while striking out four and allowing one run. Meanwhile, at the plate, Alyssa Hovermale and Mya Perez each hit two run home runs to lead Norco’s (28-3) offense in an 8-1 victory which sends the Cougars to their ninth final in 20 years Saturday, May 20, at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.

Murrieta Mesa’s Kenzie Farrier (43) and Paige Bambarger (51) watch Norco’s Mya Perez, right, circle the bases and add the finishing touch on the Cougars 8-1 CIF-SS Division 1 semifinal victory over the Rams. Valley News/Gary Evans photo

“With that Mesa lineup, no lead is safe, and they force you to remain locked in until out 21,” Goluskin said. “I didn’t throw a great game against them last year and I wasn’t going to let that happen again. We are all really excited to get back to championship weekend and it can’t get here fast enough.”

Matti Severns reached on an error and scored when Hovermale took a pitch from Rams starter Caylea Raines-Campbell and drove it over the wall in left field for a two-run homer. After a walk to Riley Potter and a single from Maddy Aguilera, the Rams escaped further harm when Katie Terrazas grounded out.

Norco scored another pair of runs in the fourth inning as Tamryn Shorter and Dakota Potter each came through with RBI singles to stretch the lead to 4-0.

“Marley threw probably her best game of the year today and held a really good lineup in check,” Robinson said. “We’ve had some bumps in the road this year, but they’ve done a really good job of coming together as a team to get back to the biggest stage in Southern Section softball.”

Another RBI single from Hovermale chased Raines-Campbell and gave the Cougars a 5-0 lead in the fifth with one out. Lily Hauser came on in relief and walked Aguilera with the bases loaded to make it 6-0 Cougars after five innings.

Mikaylah Jones led off the Rams’ sixth inning with a single down the left field line and came around to score on an RBI single from Jasmyn Burns before Goluskin got a groundout to escape with a 6-1 lead. Mya Perez then hit a two-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning to left center field which gave Norco the 8-1 lead which they’d prevail by.

“I still believe we’re the better team, but we just didn’t show it today,” Rams coach Antonio Romero said. “Tip your hat to Norco because they did a great job of executing with runners in scoring position today and I wish them well in the final.”

WP: Goluskin, Marley CG, 3 hits, 1 run, 4 Ks, 2 BBs

LP: Raines-Campbell, Caylea 4+ IP, 6 runs, 6 hits, 1 BB

Leading Hitters: Jones (Mesa) 2-3, Hovermale (Norco) 2-3 with a walk and three runs batted in

Home Runs: Hovermale and Perez (Norco)

Murrieta Mesa players pictured here after their 12-11 win over Huntington Beach Tuesday, May 9, in the CIF-SS Division 1 softball semifinals at Norco High School. Valley News/Courtesy photo

Other scores involving Valley News area teams

Division 2

Tesoro – 2, Vista Murrieta – 1 (8 innings)

Great Oak – 3, California – 0

Miali Guachino threw a complete game shutout with 12 strikeouts and allowed just three hits. She also provided the game’s only scoring with a three-run homer in the sixth inning. The Wolfpack hosted number one seed Moorpark on Saturday, May 13, in a semifinal game, where they blanked the Musketeers, 7-0. Great Oak will move on to face Grand Terrace in the CIF Southern Section Division 2 finals (Time and date still TBA, as of the time this article went to print).

Division 5

Liberty – 12, Paraclete – 6

Down to their last six outs in Lancaster, the Bison exploded for 12 runs and rallied to reach Saturday’s semifinal. They then played third-seeded Northwood of Irvine Saturday, May 13, in another road game, which they won 6-3. Liberty will face Irvine in the CIF Southern Section Division 5 finals (Time and date still TBA, as of the time this article went to print).

Division 7

Crean Lutheran – 8, Tahquitz – 3

*Despite the loss, Tahquitz now advances due to a CIF-SS violation on Crean Lutheran, where they were reported to have broken Bylaw 2713.2, which has to do with soft toss batting practice in front of a batter during warmups. The CIF-SS offices sent out a statement Friday, May 12, at 10. am. The Titans moved on to face Ganesha High School, in a road game Saturday, May 13, but fell to the Giants, 15-3.

Derryl Trujillo can be reached at socaltrekkie@gmail.com. Article contributions made by Valley News Sports Editor, JP Raineri.

Derryl Trujillo

Derryl Trujillo has been a local sportswriter since 2018 and is the 2019 IEBCA Supporter of the Year award winner. He can be reached via email at socaltrekkie@gmail.com.