Mira Costa’s softball team eliminated eighth-seeded Atascadero 10-8 Tuesday advancing to the quarterfinals of the CIF Southern Section-Ford Division 3 Softball Championships where they will play at top-seeded Chino Hills Thursday at 3:15 p.m.
Junior Nikki Gialketsis is batting .483 on the season and continued her hot hitting in the postseason going 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs. She has seven hits in 10 at bats including two home runs, two doubles and nine RBIs in three playoff games for Mira Costa (24-7).
Taylor Glover improved her team-leading batting average to .531 going 3-for-3 with a home run, a double and a walk against Atascadero. She also stole a base to remain perfect this season with 23 steals in 23 attempts.
Mustang ace Breanna Kelly, who had no decision in Tuesday’s game, will be going after her 20th win when she faces Chino Hills (32-3). Kasey Hutton picked up the win in relief.
“I would like to get Breanna her 20th victory,” Mira Costa head coach Dick Amberik said. “That’s a good accomplishment in high school.”
Mira Costa’s offense has been a major factor in the team’s success with seven players hitting over .400 for the season and will be looked upon to upset Chino Hills.
“Any one of our nine starters can tee off at any time,” Amberik said. “We always have a hitter’s chance.”
Meghan Von Behren is the team leader in home runs (five), triples (seven), runs scored (42) and slugging percentage (.889).
Other key contributors at the plate for the Mustangs include Ulufa Leilua (.473, team-leading 44 RBIs and 15 doubles), Katie Saunders (.463), Steffani Lajeunesse (.429) and Brittany Were (.413).
Sixth-seeded North Torrance (25-7) also advanced to the quarterfinals after beating defending CIF champion Oaks Christian 3-2. The Saxons play at No. 3 St. Lucy’s (23-5) on Thursday.
South Torrance (21-10), which earned an at-large berth out of the Pioneer League, upset second-seeded Burroughs/Burbank 6-4 Tuesday and will travel to take on No. 10 Warren (22-6) in the quarterfinals.
Semifinal action will take place Tuesday followed by the finals either Friday or Saturday, June 1-2 at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine.
