ANAHEIM >> The Orange Lutheran softball team handed Villa Park, the No. 1-ranked team in CIF Southern Section Division 1, its first loss of the season Friday in the third round of the Michele Carew Classic at Peralta Park.
The Lancers defeated Villa Park, 3-2, however, the Spartans were without Arizona-bound pitcher Sydney Somnerdike, the reigning Gatorade California softball player of the year.
Somnerdike sprained her right ankle in the sixth inning of the Spartans’ 1-0 victory over Beaumont on Thursday night. Villa Park coach Terry Williams said Somnerdike is expected to miss about two weeks.
Kai Minor of Orange Lutheran connects with a pitch against Villa Park in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)Mya Diaz
Brianne Weiss pitches for Orange Lutheran as they play Villa Park in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mya Diaz of Orange Lutheran runs to first base after a hit but was thrown out on the play against Villa Park in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mya Diaz of Orange Lutheran, left, attempts to tag Kalia Espere of Villa Park as she slides safely back to second base in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Orange Lutheran players cheer on a teammate after getting a hit during a game against Villa Park in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Mya Diaz of Orange Lutheran fields a throw as Jamie Schafer of Villa Park slides safely into third base in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Auddrey Lira pitches for Villa Park as they play Orange Lutheran in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kai Minor scores a run for Orange Lutheran as they play Villa Park in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Kiki Estrada, left, of Orange Lutheran escapes a tag by Villa Park’s Jordyn Lawhon in the Michelle Carew Classic softball tournament at Peralta Park in Anaheim on Friday, April 1, 2022. Orange Lutheran won the game 3-2. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Friday’s game ended after 4½ innings because of the tournament’s one-hour, 45-minute time-limit rule.
The Lancers (15-6), who have won three in a row in the tournament, can reach the Gold Bracket final with a victory over Norco on Saturday at 11 a.m.
“They were missing Sydney,” Orange Lutheran coach Steve Miklos said. “It’s really unfortunate they had an injury last night. It kind of changed the dynamics of the game.”
Orange Lutheran leadoff hitter Mya Diaz went 3 for 3 with two runs scored and a stolen base.
She singled to start the bottom of the first and made it to third on a two-base error and then later scored on a wild pitch to give the Lancers a 1-0 lead.
The Lancers had two runners on with one out when Villa Park freshman pitcher Auddrey Lira retired the next two hitters to escape with minimal damage.
The Lancers added two more runs in the second, on Kiki Estrada’s single, to take a 3-0 lead.
The Spartans (16-1) scored two runs in the fourth on an RBI single from Brianne Kang and a run-scoring sacrifice fly by Bethany Spurr.
“I thought the freshman (Lira) pitched really well for being in a big spot like that against a really quality team.” Williams said.
Villa Park got its leadoff hitter on base in the fifth, but Orange Lutheran sophomore pitcher Brianne Weiss got the next three hitters out to pick up the victory.
Weiss left two runners stranded in the third and fourth innings.
“We toughed it out,” Miklos said. “We played well enough to hold on and win.”
The Spartans came close to matching their winning streak of 18 games at the start of the 2021 season.
