Norco defeats Corona Santiago for Division 1 softball title

IRVINE —  — It wasn’t the typical Emily Lockman masterpiece, but that’s just fine with her.

The Norco High senior pitcher capped her high school career with a complete-game effort in a 6-4 win over Corona Santiago, in the Southern Section Division 1 title game.

“I knew that they were going to score,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting a shutout. I just wanted to make sure we were up at the end of the seven innings, so I was happy with it.”

Typically aided by excellent defense, the Cougars infield committed four errors, but Corona Santiago stranded eight runners.

“I was really concerned,” Coach Rick Robinson said. “We knew they’d make a run. We didn’t play as good defensively as we typically do, but we found a way to win it.”

The top-ranked Cougars, who still have a chance to finish No. 1 in the national rankings, scored in three consecutive innings to take a 6-0 lead.

The Sharks (23-10) scored four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, but it was all they could muster against the Cougars’ ace.

In the fourth inning, Norco (31-1) scored three in a rally charged by Kylie Reed. The junior, who reached base four times and scored twice, singled and stole second before scoring on a single by Abigal Lockman.

Shortstop Alex Vargas nearly made an acrobatic diving catch in short left field but the umpires ruled that the ball was trapped.

Emily Lockman hit a double to the right-center field gap to drive in her sister. The pitcher scored on the next play when Vargas was unable to field a sharp grounder, giving the Cougars a 6-0 advantage.

In Division 2, Chino defeated Don Lugo, 10-6, to win its first Southern Section title. Alyssa Cordova had a two-run single in the third inning to help lift the Cowboys.

In Division 3, Chino Hills defeated South Torrance, 3-0, on a two-hitter by Nicole Innamorato.

In Division 5, La Cañada earned its second consecutive section championship with a 7-3 win over Beaumont.

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