Dixon loses to Monterey in D4 NorCal Championship
Jun 06, 2022 12:00AM ● By By Shaun Holkko, sports editor
Dixon sophomore pitcher Felesha LePenske throws a pitch during a 5-1 loss to Monterey in the 2022 CIF Division IV NorCal Softball Championships Regional Final on Saturday, June 4 in Dixon. Photo by Nicolas Brown
DIXON, CA (MPG) – An extraordinary season came to an end in bittersweet fashion Saturday for the Dixon High School varsity softball team as the Rams lost to Monterey 5-1 in the 2022 CIF Division IV NorCal Softball Championships Regional Final.
Dixon (24-2-1, 10-0 Golden Empire League) came into the first-ever Northern California tournament as the No. 1 seed after winning the CIF Division IV Sac-Joaquin Section Softball Championship. The Rams also entered the NorCal title game without a loss in their last 23 contests.
The Toreadores (25-8-1, 9-3 PCAL – Mission) came into the D4 NorCal tournament as the No. 2 seed following a victory in the CIF Division II Central Coast Section Softball Tournament (California) Championship game. Monterey was propelled to the victory over Dixon by a four-run top of the second inning.
The Rams’ only run of the game came on a solo home run from senior shortstop Brianna Humphries in the bottom of the sixth inning. Although the ending to the season may have been bitter, the journey there was pretty sweet for Dixon. The Rams cruised through the first two rounds of the NorCal tournament.
Dixon’s first game of the tournament came on May 31 at home against No. 8 Woodland Christian (25-4, 6-0 Central Valley California). The Rams did not need the entire seven innings to take down the Cardinals, as Dixon defeated Woodland Christian 12-0 and the game ended after the top of the fifth inning due to the 10-run mercy rule.
The Rams scored four runs in the bottom of the first inning, two in the second and six in the fourth. Dixon’s first run of the game came on an inside the park solo home run hit into right field by sophomore Audrey Graham. Humphries scored the next two runs of the game with one swing of the bat, blasting a two-run homer to center field, her 12th of the season, to score herself and sophomore pitcher Felesha LePenske, who reached base on a double.
The final run of the first inning came on an RBI single knocked into right field by sophomore Aemonn Rosenberger to score sophomore Ashley Garcia. LePenske scored the Rams’ two runs in the bottom of the second with a two-run dinger to right center field.
Humphries hit an RBI double down the left field line in the top of the fourth and Dixon piled on five more runs in the inning to ultimately win 12-0. The Rams racked up 14 total hits with LePenske leading the way going 3-for-4 from the dish. LePenske nearly completed the cycle, falling just a single short as the sophomore had a double, a triple and a home run in the win and racked up three runs scored and two RBI.
Three other Rams had multiple hits as Humphries, Graham and senior pitcher Lexi Coyle had two hits apiece. Both of Humphries’ hits went for extra bases as she hit a double and a home run, recording a game-high three RBI and two runs scored.
Senior Madi West was the other Dixon hitter to tally multiple RBI with two on an RBI single. Sophomore catcher Alexis Wiese had most of the Cardinals’ three hits as she went 2-for-2 with a double and two stolen bases.
LePenske earned the win (12-0) on the mound by pitching five scoreless innings, allowing only three hits while striking out 11 Cardinals on 83 pitches. Gianna Carrion suffered the loss for Woodland. The senior pitcher tossed three innings and gave up 12 hits, 12 runs (10 earned) and two walks with one punchout on 91 pitches.
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The Rams played their next game two days later as they hosted No. 4 seed Carlmont (17-12, 9-5 Peninsula – Bay) of Belmont in the NorCal regional semifinals. Both teams plated one run in the first inning. The Scots scored their run on an RBI single from junior outfielder Maddie Wiessinger. Dixon scored its first run of the game on a sacrifice fly from Coyle.
The game remained deadlocked at one going into the sixth inning as pitchers Coyle and junior Ava Conti dueled back and forth. Then, the Rams exploded for five runs in the bottom of the sixth to take a commanding lead. The scoring outburst was sparked by the team’s leader, Humphries, who blasted a solo home run to get the party started, lucky No. 13 for her on the year. Down to their final three outs, the Scots were unable to respond, and Dixon was victorious 6-1.
The Rams had more runs than hits as both teams had five hits each. Garcia led the way for Dixon going 2-for-3 with one run, one stolen base and an RBI. Humphries, LePenske and sophomore designated hitter Caitlyn Hendershot had one hit each. LePenske had a game-high with two RBI followed by Humphries, Coyle and sophomore Camryn Elliot who also had one RBI each.
LePenske stole two bases and Humphries, Elliot, Garcia and Hendershot each stole one bag. Coyle (12-1) had another dominant performance in the circle to earn the victory, pitching a complete game going seven innings and allowing five hits, two walks and one unearned run with eight Ks on 118 pitches.
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Rams seniors Humphries, Coyle, West, Janie Ming, Isabela Orozco, Alexis Bencze and Shea Garcia joined their fellow graduates in the Class of 2022 for the graduation ceremony Saturday morning at the Dixon football stadium. Then at 4 p.m. it was game time.
The Dores scored their first of four runs in the second inning on an RBI double by freshman Eastin Jennings hit down the right field line to score senior Darcy Fisher. Then, junior Jordan Chiewpanich hit a pop up into center field that landed between four Rams attempting to make the catch, scoring Jennings from second. Finally, junior Katarina Manuofetoa hit an RBI single up the middle to plate the final two runs of the inning and help Monterey take a 4-0 lead.
The Rams attempted to get on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third on a single up the middle from Graham, but Hendershot was called out at home. Manuofetoa knocked in the Dores’ fifth and final run on an RBI double hit down the third base line in the top of the fourth to score Chiewpanich.
Humphries blasted her 14th homer of the season over the fence in left field during the bottom of the sixth but that would be the only run Dixon would get all game. Monterey prevailed 5-1 to win the CIF D4 NorCal Softball Championship as the Rams fell just short.
LePenske suffered her first loss (12-1) of the season despite pitching a complete game. The sophomore pitched seven innings and gave up 12 hits, five runs (four earned) and four walks with five strikeouts. Humphries finished 1-for-3 tallying one RBI and one run on her solo homer in the sixth.
Freshman pitcher Ella Myers earned the win for the Dores by pitching a complete game, tossing seven innings and allowing five hits, three walks and one earned run with three strikeouts on 108 pitches. Manuofetoa went 3-for-4 with three RBI and two doubles. Fisher was the other Dore with a game-high three hits as she went 3-for-4 with a triple and one run scored.
The loss to Monterey concludes what was an amazing school year for girls’ sports in Dixon. In the fall, the girl’s varsity water polo team won a CIF SJS D4 section title. In the winter, the girl’s varsity basketball team kept the ball rolling by winning a section title of their own.
Now in the spring, the varsity softball team went 23 consecutive games without a loss, winning a league title, a section title and nearly a Northern California title. Despite a trio of senior leaders in Humphries, Coyle and West departing, the Rams have a great shot at repeating as league and section champions next year. Perhaps even the title that alluded them this season could be in Dixon’s future as well.