Ganesha players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Ontario in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
IRVINE — Kalena Lemus had to dodge a line drive back up the middle on her sixth pitch of the game.
But that was one of the few balls the Ontario softball team managed to square up Saturday morning.
Ganesha third baseman Mikayla Martinez, center, celebrates with catcher Jayden Tamura, left, and starting pitcher Kalena Lemus after defeating Ontario in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players celebrate after defeating Ontario in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha starting pitcher Kalena Lemus throws to an Ontario batter during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Karli Cunnigan, center, beats the throw to score after the pitch gets past Ontario catcher Natalie Bolanos, as starting pitcher Angelina Garcia, right, covers the plate during the sixth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha shortstop Madison Pike throws out Ontario’s Sofia Femath at first on a ground ball during the first inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players celebrate after defeating Ontario in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Mackenzie Ward reacts after getting hit by a pitch during the third inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game against Ontario at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Alexis Keifer, left, and Madison Pike celebrate scoring on a two-run RBI double by Mikayla Martinez against Ontario during the third inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ontario left fielder Emily Moreno reaches out to catch a fly ball hit by Ganesha’s Martiann Leach during the sixth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ontario right fielder Alaiza Lopez misses a ball hit for an inside-th-park home run by Ganesha’s Savanah Duncan during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Mikayla Martinez, second from left, and Karli Cunnigan, right, celebrate with teammates, Savanah Duncan, center, for hitting an inside-the-park home run against Ontario during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha starting pitcher Kalena Lemus throws to an Ontario batter during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha second baseman Martiann Leach, right, misses tagging out Ontario’s Alaiza Lopez, left, running past, but throws out Emily Moreno at first during the fifth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Kalena Lemus, left, and Mikayla Martinez, second from right, and Jayden Tamura, right, lead to team celebration for Savanah Duncan, center, who hit an inside-the-park home run against Ontario during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ontario starting pitcher Angelina Garcia throws to a Ganesha batter during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players celebrate with the trophy after defeating Ontario in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ontario starting pitcher Angelina Garcia throws to a Ganesha batter during the second inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ontario’s Natalie Bolanos laments after striking out looking against Ganesha during the fourth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ontario’ shortstop Sofia Femath, right, leaps in celebration with second baseman Hailey Romero after turning in a double play against Ganesha during the fifth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha second baseman Martiann Leach can’t reach a ground ball hit by Ontario’s Alaiza Lopez during the fifth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha head coach Patricia Joines, left, has a conversation with the infield after two errors during the fifth inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 7 prep softball championship game against Ontario at Barber Park in Irvine, on Saturday, May 20, 2023. (Photo by Alex Gallardo, Contributing Photographer)
Lemus did not allow another hit and finished the game with nine strikeouts as Ganesha cruised to a 5-0 win over the top-seeded Jaguars in the CIF Southern Section Division 7 championship game at Barber Park.
It is the first section championship for the Ganesha softball program, which displayed dominance from the very start of the season. The No. 2-seeded Giants (16-0) have outscored the opposition 219-6 this year.
“It has been a really great season, and these girls came together and played well,” Ganesha coach Trish Joines said, “Everyone contributed to this championship and had their big moments this season.”
“We all had the same goals, and that made it easier for us to come together,” Lemus said. “We’re doing what we set out to do. We won league and CIF. Now we’l try to win (the) state (regional).”
Ontario (16-9) had a positive start against Lemus, as Laylonie Martinez ripped a single through the circle. Lemus got out of the inning unscathed and set down 11 of 12 batters during one strecth.
Ganesha grabbed a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second inning on an inside-the-park home run by freshman first baseman Savanah Duncan. Ontario right fielder Alaiza Lopez tried to make a diving catch. The ball rolled to the fence, and Duncan sped around the bases.
“That felt great, especially since I didn’t have the best performance last game,” Duncan said, referring to a 1-for-5 effort in the semifinals against Tahquitz. “I just ran as fast as I could.”
Ganesha tacked on three more runs in the third inning. Mikaylah Martinez roped a double into the gap in left-center field to drive in a pair of runs, and Jayden Tomura singled home Martinez.
“We were trying to figure out the pitcher that first time through the order,” Joines said. “The girls were communicating with each other about what to expect. They just work so well together.”
A pair of errors by Ganesha during the fifth inning gave Ontario its best chance to break through. Lemus wasn’t fazed, however, as she retired three straight batters to strand runners at second and third.
Lemus only had three three-ball counts in the game. Two of those came in the sixth inning, when she walked back-to-back hitters with two outs. She retired the final four batters to complete the one-hitter.
“I think it was a little bit of excitement, and a little bit of fear,” Lemus said of that brief control issue. “I just had to calm down. I have to credit my teammates with helping me do that.”
Anabelle Gonzalez tripled and scored on a wild pitch in the sixth inning for Ganesha’s final run.
Ontario had a couple of defensive gems during the game. Shortstop Sofia Femath made a great stab up the middle for a double play in the fifth inning. Emily Moreno made a running catch in left field to take away extra bases in the sixth.
Eric-Paul Johnson has been covering high school sports for The Press-Enterprise since 1999, specializing in football, girls volleyball, girls water polo and softball. He is a stat junkie who created and maintains a record book for high school sports in the Inland Empire. Eric-Paul is a lifelong resident of Riverside and graduated from Bethel Christian and Cal Baptist. Eric-Paul enjoys going to concerts and twice has worked as a photographer at the Coachella Valley Arts & Music Festival.
