Gusiff's Walk-Off Hit Lifts Mission Viejo to 2-1 Victory Over San Clemente

Junior shortstop Janelle Gusiff drove the first pitch she saw deep to right field, driving in two runs and lifting Mission Viejo's softball team to a 2-1 victory over San Clemente in the first round of the CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoffs.

The two-out, walk-off hit in the bottom of the seventh inning sent the Diablos into an on-field celebration and reporters scrambling for the nearest sports cliché handbook.

Several of the old-time phrases such as "It’s never over until it’s over," and "Records get thrown out in the playoffs" were definitely fitting. But best of all, "It was a game neither team deserved to lose." For 6 1/2 innings the Tritons and Diablos, South Coast League rivals until this season, battled each other hit for hit, pitch for pitch and defensive play for defensive play.

The abrupt ending left a stunned San Clemente team walking off the field quietly after the post-game handshake and team meeting. Senior Kailey McCasland and her freshman sister, Shannon, shared a hug in right field as the players exited the field to the cheers of the San Clemente fans. And first-year coach Paul Hill struggled with his emotions after witnessing the end of his team's season.

“They gave it everything; they’re a great bunch of girls." he said. "I’ve never had a team that’s been so close, they’re like sisters, they’re awesome.”

Diablos pitcher Amanda Fernandez allowed only four hits and one earned run, and San Clemente junior pitcher Summer Secrest held the Diablos to only four hits through six innings.

Mission Viejo senior third baseman Nikki Byron led off the seventh with a single, but the Tritons were able to get the first out on a fielder’s choice force at second base. Sophomore utility player Katie McGann drew a walk to advance senior Alison Mckibbon to second. The Tritons were able to get the second out on a deep fly to center, which brought Gusiff to the plate. She turned on the first pitch she saw and drove it to the right-field fence.

“I was looking for outside and it went outside and I just swung as hard as I could,” Gusiff said of the pitch.

The Tritons took a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning after Kailey McCasland led off with a single. After she stole second, Shannon McCasland came up with one out and drove a pitch over the right fielder’s head. The ball bounced over the fence for a ground-rule RBI double.

The Tritons also threatened in the third inning with a single by senior Olivia Cartelli and a two-out bunt single by sophomore second baseman Natalia Ybarra. But a line drive to left field by sophomore outfielder Caroline Tully was run down by freshman Shianne Ybarra.

San Clemente’s Jourdan Kadow, who had some big catches in center field, led off the fifth with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. But Fernandez was able to get two popups out to end the inning. The Diablos had runners on first and second in the bottom of the fifth with two outs, but a running catch along the left-field foul fence by Tully ended the inning.

Mission Viejo coach Troy Ybarra said both pitchers and defenses played solid games, adding that Fernandez was key in keeping the Diablos within striking distance. He also noted the efforts of Secrest in keeping the Diablos’ offense in check. “She threw very well against us," he said. "She hit her spots; she kept us off balance.”

The Diablos (15-12), runners-up in the South Coast League to Tesoro, will face fourth-seeded Adolfo Camarillo, a 2-1 winner over Northwood, in a second-round game on Tuesday. The Tritons (15-13-1) begin their off-season after finishing tied with Aliso Niguel for second place in the Sea View League.