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As Loula-Rae McNamara induced a soft popup to third base, the Tesoro pitcher began to jump with excitement. Catcher Kennedy Proctor followed suit, and soon the rest of their teammates leaped for joy on the softball field at Mission Viejo on Wednesday.

One of most competitive league races in Orange County had been settled, and by a relatively new contender.

McNamara retired seven of the final eight batters she faced to cap a complete game in a 6-4 victory that secured the No. 13 Titans their first South Coast League title since 2011.

Tesoro (16-3-1, 7-1), which joined the league in 2022 after long stint in the Sea View, took a 5-4 lead in the fifth on a two-out error and added another run in the seventh on a two-out single by Proctor.

“It is a really tough league,” first-year Tesoro coach Sara Higgins said of the South Coast, which included No. 10 Mission Viejo (19-6-1, 6-2) and No. 12 Aliso Niguel (13-6-1, 4-3). “(It’s) really stressful. There’s a lot of talent, and it’s depth of talent. It’s top to bottom (strong) rosters.”

Tesoro, Mission Viejo and Aliso Niguel are all ranked in the Top 10 in CIF-SS Division 2.

The Titans distinguished themselves this week by defeating Aliso Niguel 5-0 on Monday and completing a sweep of the Diablos.

The left-handed McNamara again played a key role. On Wednesday, she allowed one earned run on six hits, struck out five and walked two.

A junior committed to Boise State, McNamara used her off-speed pitches, location and guidance from Utah-bound Proctor to induce several grounders, including four she collected and threw to first baseman Peyton Roberge for outs.

“It’s her speed change and she’s very good at locating her pitches,” Proctor said of McNamara, who recently pitched a perfect game. “Her ball has a ton of movement but she’s really good at pitching around the strike zone.”

And if McNamara didn’t scoop up the grounders, shortstop Kiara Cisneros, second baseman Sami Macchiaroli and third baseman Bella Barley often made the play.

“I’m very proud (of our team),” McNamara said. “I couldn’t have done this without my defense behind me. I know when I pitch the ball, they’re going to make the play if I hit my spots. Kennedy has been calling my pitches, and I know she’s going to call the right pitch for me.”

Tesoro’s hitting also was part of the equation against starter Reece Uehara, who competed well for Mission Viejo.

The Titans’ first four batters — Cisneros, Sammy Weiss, McNamara and Proctor — opened the first with singles to spark a four-run inning. The San Diego State-bound Cisneros went 3 for 4 while Proctor and McNamara each had two hits.

“I knew we’d have to work hard and it wouldn’t be easy but I knew we could do it,” Proctor said. “We have a really talented group of girls.”

“Once we all clicked together,” the senior added, “we’re like a well-oiled machine.”

Mission Viejo tied the score 4-4 in the second on two-run doubles by freshman Kylee Jepson and senior leadoff batter Ava Tabangcura.

The Diablos’ Sofia Elliott finished with two doubles and made a slick catch playing first base on a foul ball near the fence.

In the Crestview League:

Canyon 6, Esperanza 5: BYU commit Irma Urincho led off the 15th inning with a home run to help the visiting No. 3 Comanches (22-4, 7-1) claim the league title in a game that resumed after being suspended by darkness on Tuesday. Jordan Simmons earned the victory after teaming with Bella Settembro to pitch one of the longest games of the season.

Taylor Shumaker went 2 for 3 with two doubles and four walks to lead Esperanza (15-10, 5-3), which plays host to El Modena (18-8, 4-4) on Thursday.

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