Bittersweet Ending for Mar Vista Softball with Playoff Loss but Third Straight League Championship

The host Mar Vista High softball team ran into a buzzsaw in El Capitan in Wednesday's play-in game for a San Diego Section Division III playoff berth, losing 10-0 on a six-inning perfect game by El Cap pitcher Delanie Gourley.

The Lady Mariners finish the season 14-10 overall and were 11-1 in league, sharing the South Bay title. El Capitan of Lakeside improved to 15-15 overall and was 6-2 in its league games.

“We did not play to our potential,” said Mar Vista head coach Rick Nichols. “The fielding was pretty good, but we made a couple of costly errors.”

El Capitan’s freshman pitcher Gourley struck out 15 of Mar Vista’s 18 batters in tossing her second no-hitter of the season. She also went 3-for-4 with a home run and a triple. Right fielder MacKenzie Gandy went 2-for-4 with two homers.

“The girls struggled with the speed of the El Capitan pitcher. We do not face this kind of pitching in the South Bay League and it is difficult to prepare for this,” Nichols said. “Their pitcher is one of the best in the county, and she showed it yesterday. Their hitters were very good.”

Mar Vista pitcher Mallory Rosas was roughed up in the first inning. Moderate rain made it difficult as she walked the first two batters. Heavy rain then halted the game for several minutes. When the game resumed, designated hitter Marissa Cuevas hit a two-run triple to center. Then Gandy hit a homer with no outs, giving El Capitan a 4-0 lead in the first.

“My team always tries their best, and this was the same (today),” Nichols said.

Things didn't go in the Mariners' direction in Wednesday's playoff game but the season was by no means a disappointment.

The Lady Mariners won their last league game 14-0 at home against San Ysidro on May 16. With the win, Mar Vista tied Olympian with an 11-1 league record. The teams were named South Bay League co-champions. 

Sophomore outfielder and shortstop Alyssa Rose was selected as Player of the Week for the week of May 15-21 by Maxpreps Sports. She hit two home runs and drove in four runs against San Ysidro.

Freshman outfielder Kristin Gendreau went 3-for-3 with a double and recorded her fourth home run. Junior first baseman Victoria Santa Lucia went 2-for-3 with three RBI off two home runs. She finished the season with 10 homers.

“It was a good season for us with a very young team, losing only four seniors to graduation,” Nichols said. “We won our third straight South Bay League banner and sixth in the past seven years.”