Sophia Debs delivers a pitch for Sierra Canyon as they host Saugus High School in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
CHATSWORTH — Sierra Canyon softball defeated Saugus 6-0 in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs Thursday at Sierra Canyon High.
Freshman pitcher Sophia Debs and Duke-bound senior Hailey Shuler combined on the shutout for Sierra Canyon, and the Trailblazers slugged a pair of two-run home runs.
“It was an excellent win. They came out here with a purpose and executed,” Sierra Canyon coach Regina Jorgensen said. “A shutout is a shutout, the pitchers did a good job of bearing down and executing.”
Sierra Canyon (10-5) advances to the second and will be at home Tuesday to play Redondo (17-6).
Sierra Canyon’s Hailey Shuler watches the ball clear the fence for a two run home-run against Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Nina Peyton-Johnson celebrates with her Sierra Canyon teammates after hitting a home-run against Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Savanna Smith tries to complete a double play for Saugus as they fall to Sierra Canyon in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon pitcher Sophia Debs fields a comebacker against Saugus during first round CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoff action May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Kona Ramsbottom delivers a pitch for Saugus as they face Sierra Canyon in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Riley Furnace prepares to make a throw to first as they defeat Saugus High School in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon pitcher Hailey Shuler tosses the ball to first as they defeat Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Nina Peyton-Johnson makes a throw to first against Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sophia Debs delivers a pitch for Sierra Canyon as they host Saugus High School in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Nina Peyton-Johnson celebrates with her Sierra Canyon teammates after hitting a home-run against Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sophia Debs delivers a pitch for Sierra Canyon as they host Saugus High School in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sophia Debs delivers a pitch for Sierra Canyon as they host Saugus High School in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon pitcher Sophia Debs is all smiles as they defeat Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon softball players celebrate as they defeat Saugus in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Sierra Canyon’s Riley Furnace reacts as they host Sierra Canyon in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoffs May 2, 2024.(Photo by Andy Holzman, Contributing Photographer)
Debs was the starting pitcher for Sierra Canyon and went four innings, allowed five hits and zero walks with six strikeouts.
The only trouble Debs and Sierra Canyon ran into was in the fourth inning when Saugus had the bases loaded and no outs. Debs was able to strike out the next three batters to end the rally and preserve the shutout.
“It was great to get the win, it was definitely a team effort,” Debs said. “Our defense was really good today and we all just have to keep it up.”
Debs got the Sierra Canyon offense started in the bottom of the first by hitting an RBI single that drove in Shuler for a 1-0 lead.
Saugus starting pitcher Taliya Mata went one-third of an inning and was replaced by Kona Ramsbottom after allowing two walks and the single by Debs.
Cal commit Nina Peyton-Johnson extended the Trailblazers’ lead to 3-0 with a two-run home run in the second inning.
“My first pitch I got outside and swung and missed, and so I knew that pitch was coming again,” Peyton-Johnson said about her home run. “And when I saw it again, I just tried to hit a hard line drive.”
Shuler hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to put Sierra Canyon up 5-0.
Shuler finished the game 3 for 4 at the plate. In the pitching circle, she allowed no runs and only two hits over the final three innings.
“It felt really good to get the win,” Shuler said. “We had a lot of good hitting at good times. I’m happy I was able to help my team out and help deliver the shutout.”
Lianna Lara drove in a run for Sierra Canyon in the fifth to make the score 6-0.
Lara, who is Sierra Canyon’s catcher, was also very strong defensively.
Apart from the fourth inning where they had the bases loaded and no outs, Saugus was not able to get much going offensively. Saugus leadoff hitter Malia Horvat finished the game 1 for 4 and opened the game with a double. Kennedy Thompson of Saugus finished 2 for 3 with two singles.
Saugus catcher Kaylie Stauffer finished the game 1 for 3 with a double.
Stauffer had a very strong season for Saugus, and finished with the school’s all-time record for home runs in a season with 14.
