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SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — Mission Viejo’s Sofia Elliott and San Juan Hills’ Peyton Leonard dueled for 11 innings in the circle. The Diablos’ outfielders combined for four spectacular diving or sliding catches  And Brooke Finneran shook off a recent injury to delivered in the clutch.

The South Coast League softball game between No. 9 Mission Viejo and host San Juan Hills on Tuesday offered plenty of determination to match its extended showing.

Finneran bounced a single over a leaping Leonard for a two-out, two-run single in the 11th and Elliott fired a three-hitter with 13 strikeouts as the Diablos stayed undefeated in the South Coast League with a 2-0 victory.

“The girls showed a good amount of will to win today,” Mission Viejo coach Clint Watson said. “It was pretty fun to watch.”

Finneran, the Diablos’ No. 9 batter, recently returned from a thumb injury to drive in Sydney Denser and Hailey Gald from second and third base. The junior produced for Mission Viejo (19-4, 3-0) after missing opportunities to drive in runs in the seventh and ninth innings.

“I just try to learn from my past at-bats and not worry about them too much,” said Finneran, the daughter of former Santa Margarita wide receiver Brad Finneran, who starred with his twin Brian. “Just focus on the next at-bat.”

In the bottom of the 11th, Finneran again showed that focus by sliding in right field to grab a hard line drive for the second out.

Elliott retired the next batter to complete the longest outing of her career.

“It helps a lot when your defense has your back,” said Elliott, a sophomore who improved to 8-0 and lowered her ERA to 2.10. “Our outfield was amazing today.”

Sophomore left fielder Ava Tabangcura made a diving catch in the gap for the first out in the third. She also laid out to snag a foul ball down in the line for the first out in the seventh.

Senior center fielder Shayna Glass started the highlights with a diving catch to end the third with a runner aboard.

Elliott also impressed to out-duel Leonard. She didn’t allow a hit until a pop up dropped untouched in the infield with two outs in the sixth. Leonard delivered the first hard hit with a two-out single in the seventh but Elliott finished strong.

“I’ve never pitched 11 innings before,” she said. “Before this, my longest game was eight innings.”

Senior shortstop Sammi Woods paced the Diablos’ offense with three hits.

Leonard recorded eight strikeouts and worked out of several jams to keep the Stallions close. She escaped a one-out, bases-loaded situation in the seventh.

The challenge by San Juan Hills (11-11, 1-2) also included nearly putting the potential winning run at second base with one out in the ninth. The Stallions’ Taylor Wooten dropped a slick bunt and forced an errant throw that appeared to send her to second base. But she was called out for being outside the batters box on the bunt.

“Insane,” first-year San Juan Hills coach Tyler DeShon said of the game. “It was super competitive. I was really proud of (us) for coming out and being able to hang with one of the best teams in (Division 2).”

Leonard certainly competed well. She’s best-known as an All-County defender and league co-MVP in soccer.

“I grew up playing a ton of (softball) and being the only pitcher really on my rec team,” she said. “I love the competition.”

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