{"id":28777,"date":"2026-05-24T08:34:21","date_gmt":"2026-05-24T08:34:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/28777\/"},"modified":"2026-05-24T08:34:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-24T08:34:21","slug":"mater-dei-softball-holds-off-san-clemente-to-grab-spot-in-cif-ss-finals-orange-county-register","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/28777\/","title":{"rendered":"Mater Dei softball holds off San Clemente to grab spot in CIF-SS finals \u2013 Orange County Register"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei players celebrate winning their CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff against San Clemente in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei\u2019s Savannah Brown watches Tulutululelei Salue\u2019s home run go over the fence as she begins to run home to score against San Clemente in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei pitcher Citlaly Valencia delivers a pitch against San Clemente in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Marley Readman, left, is tagged out by Mater Dei catcher Alexandra Carrillo as she tries to score in the third inning of the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Emily Racine gets ready to throw to first base to get the Mater Dei runner in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"As<\/p>\n

As she approaches her teammates at home plate, Mater Dei\u2019s Alexandra Carrillo begins to celebrate after hitting a solo home run in the fifth inning against San Clemente in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Peyton Stokes catches an infield pop-up against Mater Dei in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei players come out to celebrate with Tulutululelei Salue after she hit a two-run home run in the fifth inning against San Clemente in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei\u2019s Alexandra Carrillo reaches to catch a foul ball for the out against San Clemente in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei\u2019s Alexandra Carrillo is congratulated as she returns to the dugout after hitting a solo home run against San Clemente in the fifth inning in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Emily Racine runs home to score after hitting a home run in the seventh inning keeping the Tritons hopes alive against Mater Dei in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei pitcher Citlaly Valencia, right, gets a big hug from Holland Bowser after the Monarchs won their CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff against San Clemente in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"After<\/p>\n

After rounding second on her double, Mater Dei\u2019s Danica Lancellotti, left, gets back to the bag safely as San Clemente\u2019s Ryenn Roldan attempts to tag her out in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"Mater<\/p>\n

Mater Dei pitcher Citlaly Valencia, left, is swarmed by teammates after she strikes out the last San Clemente batter in the seventh inning to win the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Luca Cifuentes winds to delivers a pitch against Mater Dei in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoffs in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Emily Racine, left, and Kennedy Pyne go to field a hit along the left field line by Mater Dei\u2019s Danica Lancellotti in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Peyton Stokes fires to first to get the Mater Dei runner in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

\"San<\/p>\n

San Clemente\u2019s Marley Readman swings an misses for strike three to end the game against Mater Dei in the CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Show Caption<\/p>\n

1 of 18<\/p>\n

Mater Dei players celebrate winning their CIF-SS Division 2 softball semifinal playoff against San Clemente in Fountain Valley on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)\n<\/p>\n

Expand<\/a><\/p>\n

FOUNTAIN VALLEY \u2014 The Mater Dei softball team is headed back to the CIF Southern Section finals after a 10-year absence.<\/p>\n

The Monarchs leaned on their ace, Citlaly Valencia, while Tulutululelei Salue and Ally Carrillo provided the offense in a 4-2 win over San Clemente in the Division 2 semifinals Saturday at Fountain Valley Sports Park.<\/p>\n

Mater Dei (19-11) will face Whittier Christian in the championship game in Irvine next week.<\/p>\n

Mater Dei coach Nicole Wise, who is in her first year at the helm, is enjoying the postseason ride.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just a huge accomplishment,\u201d Wise said. \u201cI mean, these girls have worked so hard the entire year from the moment we showed up in the weight room the first day in August. They\u2019ve just worked so tremendously hard that there\u2019s nothing that can get by them at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Tritons (22-8) were in the game until the final out, as a solo home run by Emily Racine in the seventh pulled the Tritons within two runs.<\/p>\n

Ryenn Roldan earned a walk for San Clemente and advanced to third base after a double by Sydney Bishop with two outs in the seventh. Marley Readman, who represented the potential go-ahead run, came to the plate.<\/p>\n

Valencia, who finished with six strikeouts, displayed tremendous poise in the moment as she fanned Readman to end the game.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou know, Laly (Valencia), she has a fight under her where nothing will faze her,\u201d Wise said. \u201cThat\u2019s what everybody says. The girl (Racine) hit a home run and good for her, but it\u2019s like it never even happened to Laly. She can let things go, and that\u2019s the best part about watching her out there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI trust her and believe in her every step of the way because I know her being out there, she\u2019s gonna get the job done and she\u2019s gonna want that fight and she\u2019s gonna want to earn it. And she did today.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know my team has my back always,\u201d Valencia said, \u201cso it just gives me a lot of confidence to persevere and finish the game strong. Even if we give up a home run, hey, you just gotta move past it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"MaterMater Dei players, from left, Ally Carrillo, Tulutululelei Salue and Citlaly Valencia played key roles in the Monarchs\u2019 4-2 win over San Clemente in the CIF-SS Division 2 semifinals Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by David Delgado)<\/p>\n

After Valencia retired the first eight batters in order to start the game, the Tritons got on the board with two outs in the third inning using small ball tactics.<\/p>\n

Bishop got on base with a great bunt down the third-base line, then stole second base and was brought home by Readman\u2019s RBI single to make it 1-0.<\/p>\n

The Monarchs responded in the fourth inning. Danica Lancelotti hit a double and Savannah Duncan drove her in with a double.<\/p>\n

Salue broke the tie in the fifth with a towering home run to left field that made it 3-1 and then Carrillo\u2019s solo homer extended Mater Dei\u2019s advantage to 4-1.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s not the first time she\u2019s come through like that,\u201d Wise said of Salue. \u201cThe entire year, she\u2019s been our clutch hitter.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew I was due,\u201d Salue said, \u201cand I knew I had to do something for my team, especially if we were tied. I really wanted to get us going and try to be a leader up there for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

San Clemente coach Elmer Roldan felt his team was a play or two away from having a different outcome, but he took a moment to reflect on the Tritons\u2019 season.<\/p>\n

\u201cOverall, I\u2019m proud of the team,\u201d he said. \u201cWe went far. I think this is our first time even making it to the semis in school history. So I\u2019m really proud of the girls. They fought all season, came from behind. But in his game, we just came up short.\u201d<\/p>\n

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