Pitching, defense lift Whitney to section title over Rocklin

Saturday's Sac-Joaquin Section Division II championship softball game between crosstown rivals Rocklin and Whitney featured two of the top young pitchers in Northern California. Rocklin sophomore Payton Prior and Whitney freshman Taylor Cordell gave up five total hits and combined for 16 strikeouts, with both hurling a complete game. While the Thunder won all three regular-season matchups and were the defending champions, Whitney's dominant pitching and defense lifted the Wildcats to a 2-0 victory for their second crown in three years. Cordell held the Thunder to two hits while striking out six and walking two. Classmate Bri Seffens handled the field and offense with a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning and an acrobatic diving snag in right field to keep Rocklin off the bases. In left field, Aliyah Lomuljo made a diving catch to end the game as she charged toward the ball to rob Rocklin of a hit and deliver the Wildcats a victory. Lomuljo scored the go-ahead run in the sixth. Senior Emma Rabe picked up an RBI single in the seventh inning to add insurance for Whitney, scoring Boise State-bound shortstop Alyssa Flindt. Rocklin's Kamryn Buffington and Katie Wetteland each had a hit in the loss. The Thunder loaded the bases in the bottom of the first inning, but Cordell slammed the door with her second strikeout. After that, the Thunder did not advance a runner past second base and Cordell retired 15 of the final 16 batters. The title gave Whitney (23-9) bragging rights over Rocklin (24-7) with its third section championship against Rocklin's two. Both teams will advance to the CIF NorCal Regional Tournament, which begins June 3. Brackets will be released Sunday.