CCS softball playoffs: Westmont loses heartbreaker in Division I final – “It was a good run”

SAN JOSE — Westmont’s 10 seniors had their hearts set on winning a Central Coast Section championship.

But not all dreams come true.

Notre Dame-Salinas, a perennial power in CCS softball, scored two runs after two were out in the bottom of the sixth to break up a scoreless duel, and the Spirits went on to a 2-0 victory in the CCS Division I final Saturday at San Jose City College.

“We played a really strong team and we played them zero-zero for six innings,” Westmont coach Bryce Hadley said.  ” I couldn’t be prouder of this group of young ladies. This senior class has been through a ton, covid when they were freshmen. They got to this point in the season twice. Westmont teams have only been here three times and they’ve done it twice. I think that speaks for itself.”

Westmont pitcher Elisa Roy had a perfect game for three innings and still had a one-hitter going to the sixth when Notre Dame’s Hayley Sanders led off with a single to left. Roy retired the next two batters on groundouts with the runner advancing to second. Then Briana Padilla singled up the middle to break the scoreless deadlock.

Padilla took second on the throw and scored on an infield single and error to make it 2-0.

Westmont went down in order in the seventh and set off the Notre Dame celebration.

Notre Dame pitcher Sophia Cardinale pitched a three-hit shutout with one walk and eight strikeouts. Roy, a senior heading off to play college softball at the University of New Haven, was nearly as good, also pitching a three-hitter with one walk and two strikeouts.

Just prior to Notre Dame’s winning rally, Westmont had its best scoring opportunity in the top of the sixth, getting two runners on with two out, but were unable to push a run across.

Westmont’s Jacqui McLean had a two-out double to left in the fourth, but was left stranded.

Alexis Gianatasio made the defensive play of the game, a sliding catch in right field in the second inning.

“Over ten of us have known each other for more than a decade and that really kept the team together,” Gianatasio said. “It was a good game. We worked hard.”

Notre Dame (20-7) goes on to the NorCal playoffs. Westmont (20-9) had its season come to an end.

“It was a good season,” Hadley said. “We won 20 games which is an impressive number. It was a good run.”