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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — JSerra’s softball team entered its game against visiting Mater Dei on Tuesday having already secured its first trip to the playoffs under fourth-year coach Katie Stith.

The young Lions still wanted more, and played the teams’ Trinity League finale with that type of desire.

JSerra, ranked 15th in Orange County, scored the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth inning and claimed a dramatic 3-2 victory against the No. 7 Monarchs as shortstop Kaylee Layfield made a leaping catch on a liner deflected off third baseman Hollie Farmer’s glove with the tying run on second base.

The Lions’ dugout rushed onto the field after Layfield’s snag for the final out and celebrated JSerra’s first triumph against Mater Dei (17-9, 6-2) under Stith.

It was just the type of victory the coach wanted for her Division 2 Lions (19-9, 5-3), who are preparing for their first postseason of her tenure. JSerra, featuring only two seniors, beat the Division 1 Monarchs, who have clinched at least a share of the league title.

“I didn’t want to win third place and get it because other teams didn’t have as successful of a year,” Stith said. “To me, it’s more meaningful when we can get one from Orange Lutheran or Mater Dei, and truly earn that third spot.

“And for team morale,” she added, “(this) helps them believe that we just beat a good Division 1 team and did well through the regular season.”

In the seventh inning, JSerra sophomore ace Eva Hurtado escaped a one-out jam with runners at first and second by inducing a pop out to second and retiring sizzling leadoff batter Anika Ewert (3 for 4) on the game-ending deflection.

“Once the ball deflected off (Farmer’s) glove, it lost a lot of power and energy and I knew Kaylee was right there in that open spot,” said Hurtado, who out-dueled Mater Dei pitcher Justice Alcaraz. “I was confident in her making that play.”

JSerra took a 3-2 lead in the sixth as freshman clean-up hitter Alyssa Grajeda led off with a double, took third on a sacrifice bunt by center fielder Willa Poplawski and scored on a slow grounder to second by catcher Mia Krueger.

“Coach Toni (Mascarenas) was telling me anything through the infield I was going to go but anything soft we’re also going to go,” said Grajeda who beat the tag with a slide into home plate. “I was motivated by our seniors because it’s their last year and it was Senior Day.”

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Grajeda went 3 for 3 with two doubles and a RBI triple in the first inning.

Mater Dei senior Madison Rodriguez drove in two runs with a two-out single in the third. JSerra tied the score 2-2 in the fifth on a bloop single by freshman second baseman Reese Ferrel that narrowly dropped into left field.