After another successful regular season, which included a City League championship, Mission Bay softball saw its season end on Tuesday with an 8-7 heartbreaking extra-inning loss to Bishop’s School.
The Bucs fell behind early after giving up two runs in the top of the first, but managed to tie the game at two after the bottom of the inning. Bishop’s took a 4-2 lead in the top of the third with Mission Bay coming back over the next two innings to tie at the end of the fourth.
Pitching took over the next three innings, and neither side gave up a run. The game went into the extra innings, and Bishop’s pulled away by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth.
“We have a young team,” said Mission Bay head coach Vincent Ichihara. “Seven of the starting nine will return and be a force to be reckoned with for the foreseeable future.”
The Bucs ended with a 17-7 record overall thanks to standout performances from freshman Abby Nelson, who was named Pitcher of the League. Nelson made the All-League First Team along with senior Evie Horton and junior Kass Zavala. Senior Indy Beesley and sophomore Angelie Pablos made the All-League Second Team for the Bucs.
Despite starting the season with back-to-back losses to Sage Creek and Central Union, the Bucs bounced back by winning seven of eight games, with the only defeat coming to Imperial on March 10. Mission Bay outscored the opponents 48-11 during that span while also recording four shutouts.
After a 2-0 loss to Canyon Hills on April 11, Mission Bay went on an eight-game unbeaten streak, recording four more shutouts, including a 16-0 victory over Crawford on April 23, and a 19-2 dismantling of San Diego High on May 14. Despite losing to Coronado 8-0 on May 16, the Bucs closed out strong with a 5-4 win over Palo Verde Valley on May 21 before the first of two playoff games against Bishop’s on May 23, which ended in a 6-4 defeat.
