IRVINE >> Capistrano Valley Christian’s CIF Southern Section Division 7 softball championship game Saturday morning at Bill Barber Park didn’t unfold the way most of the Eagles’ games did this season.
But the outcome was the same.
The No. 2-seeded Eagles, who regularly won by wide margins throughout the season, got the runs they needed early and then relied on freshman Kylee Cammarato to pitch out of trouble multiple times to earn a 5-1 victory over Linfield Christian.
Capistrano Valley Christian players and coaches celebrate their championship title following a 5-1 win in the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game over Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian players and coaches celebrate their championship title following a 5-1 win in the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game over Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian coaches accept their championship trophy during a trophy presentation following a 5-1 win in the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game over Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Savannah Maier hits the ball during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Kylee Cammarato pitches during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian pitcher Kylee Cammarato hits the ball during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Linfield Christian’s Grace Beall hits the ball during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Capistrano Valley Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Savannah Maier slides safely into third base, avoiding a tag from Linfield Christian third baseman Brooklyn Simon, during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game between the two teams in Irvine on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Sarah Ledrew hits the ball during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Linfield Christian’s Makaylyn Eden pitches during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Capistrano Valley Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Linfield Christian pitcher Makaylyn Eden dives to try and catch a bunt during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Capistrano Valley Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian players and coaches celebrate their championship title following a 5-1 win in the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game over Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian players and coaches pose with their new trophy following a 5-1 win in the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game over Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Juliana Moore hits the ball during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Sarah Ledrew is tagged out by Linfield Christian shortstop Vanessa Perez during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game between the two teams in Irvine on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s second baseman Savannah Maier tags out Linfield Christian’s Alyssa Lanham during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game between the two teams in Irvine on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Linfield Christian’s Makaylyn Eden pitches during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Capistrano Valley Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Katelynn Cammarato hits a 2 RBI double during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Capistrano Valley Christian’s Kylee Cammarato pitches during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Linfield Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
Linfield Christian pitcher Makaylyn Eden hits the ball during the CIF-SS Division 7 championship game against Capistrano Valley Christian on Saturday, May 21, 2022. (Photo by Jeff Antenore, Contributing Photographer)
The victory came in the Eagles’ first appearance in a section championship.
“I really had a great feel about this season,” said Eagles shortstop Natalie Gleason, who came into the game batting .711 with a county-leading 18 home runs. “Especially having mostly freshmen coming in. They just came in and clutched up.”
Gleason singled home Savi Maier in the top of the first for the game’s first run.
In the second, the Eagles (27-1) came through with four consecutive two-out hits, with Katelynn Cammarato’s two-RBI single the big blow.
With the Eagles leading 4-0 in the third, Kylee Cammarato, who had cruised through the first two innings, found herself in pressure situations in four consecutive innings.
In the third, the Lions loaded the bases with three singles, when the freshman pitcher struck out Danica Perez for the third out.
The Lions had runners on second and third with two outs in the fourth, when catcher Evie Darnell made a fine play on a high pop a few feet in front of the plate.
In the fifth, the Lions had runners on and second and third with no outs when Kylee Cammarato struck out two in a row and got the third out on a pop up to short.
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“I’m just trying to push as hard as I can and hit my spots and push until I get the batter out,” Kylee Cammarato said. “(I was) very nervous but I focused on that pitch and tried to throw it my best.”
The Eagles and Lions both advance to the CIF Southern California Regional Championships, which begin May 31. Pairings will be announced May 29.
