IRVINE — Paraclete’s Jamie Sencion easily could have been rattled after she was called for a pair of illegal pitches early in the game.
But Sencion, a senior right-hander headed to Farleigh Dickinson, showed nerves of steel.
Sencion overcame those calls for replanting, as well as command issues at the beginning of the contest and delivered a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts in leading the Spirits to an 8-0 win over North in the CIF Southern Section’s Division 4 softball championship game at Barber Park’s Deanna Manning Stadium.
“She did a great job refocusing after those calls and got stronger in those late innings,” Paraclete coach Margaret Neill said about Sencion. “She has been lights out for us.”
Sencion took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and retired the final five batters she faced after giving up back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth inning. Friday’s shutout was Sencion’s third in five postseason games.
“I have been called for a lot of illegal pitches this season, but I’ve learned how to adjust,” Sencion said. “Once I fixed what I needed to fix, I was able to get locked in and just get back to pitching the way I know I can pitch.”
Sencion walked the leadoff batter in each of the first three inning. And it was back-to-back free passes to start the second. But Sencion kept her composure and struck out the next three batters to get out the inning unscathed.
Paraclete (30-2) jumped on the scoreboard with four runs in the bottom of the second. And that outburst started with key hits from the bottom of the order, including a two-run double by Mally Tavai. Addison Vandecar doubled home the third run, and Mina Barriga capped the inning with an RBI single.
“We haven’t had to rely on one or two hitters this season. It’s someone new every game,” Neill said about the hits throughout the order.
North (17-14) again had two runners on with no outs in the third, but KK Young threw out Xochitl Frias trying to steal third. Sencion got two pop-outs to end that particular threat.
“We had a couple chances to put something together in those early inning, but we didn’t get the big hit we needed,” Huskies coach Ernie Tamayo said. “She (Sencion) had spin and a command of both sides of the plate. And we struggled to lay off the rise ball.”
North starting pitcher Remy Martinez worked out of a bases-load jam in the fourth inning, getting two fly outs to keep the score at 4-0.
But Paraclete doubled its advantage with a pair of runs during the fifth and sixth innings. Taylor Day had an RBI in both of the innings.
Paraclete’s Kadynce Ruane slides into home to score against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete starting pitcher Jamie Sencion, right, celebrates with teammate Addison Vandecar after Sencion struck out the last JW North batter to end the game in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Mina Barriga, left, celebrates with Avery Carberry after winning the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship against JW North in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Avery Carberry, left, Mina Barriga, right, and another teammate celebrate winning the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship against JW North in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete players celebrate winning the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship against JW North in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Angelina Soliz, left, is safe as the throw is not fielded cleanly by JW North’s Malaiah Mayo covering third in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JW North’s Mia’Lani Mayo dives to make the catch in left on a sinking line drive by Paraclete in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JW North’s Xockitl Frias reacts after reaching second base against Paraclete in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JW North Xockitl Frias, right, is tagged out trying to take third base by Paraclete’s Addison Vandecar in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JW North starting pitcher Remi Martinez gets ready to deliver a pitch against Paraclete in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Maliana Tavai runs home to score against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete teammates greet Addison Vandecar (7) after she scored a run against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s starting pitcher Jamie Sencion gets ready to deliver a pitch against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Addison Vandecar races home to score a run against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Maliana Tavai, right, reaches third ahead of the throw to JW North’s Angelina Martinez in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JW North Remi Martinez pops up the pitch against Paraclete in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Shaylee Scripter connects for a hit against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Addison Vandecar catches a pop-up by JW North for the put out in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
JW North’s Xockitl Frias, left, makes it to the bag at second as Paraclete’s Kadynce Ruane reaches for the wide throw in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
Paraclete’s Addison Vandecar celebrates toward the dugout after hitting a double against JW North in the CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. JW North’s Angelina Martinez is at right. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
The Paraclete team pose for a photo with their CIF-SS Division 4 softball championship plaque in Irvine on Friday, May 17, 2024. (Photo by Paul Rodriguez, Contributing Photographer)
North finally broke through against Sencion in the top of the sixth, when Angelina Martinez and Audrina Camacho smacked back-to-back singles. But Sencion escaped again, as she made a diving catch on a bunt for the second out and ended the inning with a strikeout.
And Sencion retired the side in order in the seventh, with the final two outs coming via strikeouts, to put the finishing touches on her latest masterpiece.
“To end it on a strikeout is amazing,” Sencion said. “I knew that was going to be my last pitch, so I just put everything behind it.”
The championship is Paraclete’s third in the program’s history and first since capturing back-to-back Division 6 crowns in 2015-16.
“We have had an amazing run this season, and the team played their hearts out today,” senior second baseman Kadynce Ruane said. “I’m proud of the way we performed. Every single player did their job today.”
North won the Division 6 title last season and made it back to a section final despite being placed two divisions higher. The Huskies took some lumps throughout the season but made the most of an at-large playoff berth.
“To make it to this point two years in a row is something many teams can’t claim to have done,” Tamayo said. “We still have a very young group of players, and the goal will be to get back here again next year.”
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