A grand slam from Mikayla Martinez helps Ganesha set a CIF-SS record for runs in a championship game.
Ganesha’s Mikayla Martinez (13) is greeted at home after hitting a grand slam against Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
IRVINE — The Ganesha softball team didn’t leave room for any doubt about its abilities Friday in the CIF Southern Section Division 6 championship game at Deanna Manning Stadium.
The Giants looked like they belonged in a class of their own.
They won their second consecutive section title with a resounding 21-1 victory over Viewpoint.
Ganesha pitcher Kalena Lemus (14) and third baseman Mikayla Martinez (13) react to the final out as they defeat
Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players celebrate their win over Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players cheer for the trophy after their win over Viewpoint in the CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players cheer for the trophy after their win over Viewpoint in the CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players celebrate their win over Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players celebrate their win over Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Jayden Tamura (8) is congratulated by Lacy Vantuinen (22), left, and Hollyn Gentry (7) in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha first baseman Alexis Keifer (16) forces out a Viewpoint player for a double play in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Julianna Alberto (33) hits a triple in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game against Viewpoint at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint left fielder Tate Lim (4) tries for the ball as they play Ganesha in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint pitcher Emjay Peck (1) catches a fly ball in the circle as they play Ganesha in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Mikayla Martinez (13) is greeted at home after hitting a grand slam against Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Mikayla Martinez (13) is greeted at home after hitting a grand slam against Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha pitcher Kalena Lemus (14) makes a pitch as they play Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Hollyn Gentry (7) is congratulated by teammates after her RBI hit in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha’s Mikayla Martinez (13) shouts as she rounds third base after hitting a grand slam against Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha third baseman Mikayla Martinez (13) shouts after catching a pop-up bunt by a Viewpoint player in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha third baseman Mikayla Martinez (13) lunges for a pop-up bunt by a Viewpoint player in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint right fielder Freland Gebbia (11) reaches to catch a fly ball as they play Ganesha in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint catcher Carly Nelson (13) forces out Ganesha’s Brooklyn Game (2) at home in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint left fielder Tate Lim (4) tries for the ball as they play Ganesha in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint center fielder tries for the ball as they play Ganesha in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Viewpoint pitcher Emjay Peck (21) makes a pitch as they play Ganesha in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha pitcher Kalena Lemus (14) makes a pitch as they play Viewpoint in their CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha players cheer for the trophy after their win over Viewpoint in the CIF-SS Division 6 championship softball game at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine on Friday May 17, 2024. Ganesha defeated Viewpoint 21-1. (Photo by Keith Durflinger, Contributing Photographer)
Ganesha improved to 22-0 by scoring a CIF-SS record for runs in a championship softball game. It also climbed to No. 10 on the all-time list for most runs in a season with 349.
“It’s been incredible,” said Ganesha head coach Trish Joines, whose team won the Division 7 title last season. “The girls came together, and it was good to see these seniors finish on such a good note. It’s only going to get better.”
The Giants battered Viewpoint ace Emjay Peck and saw seven different batters record an RBI.
Perhaps the biggest impact at the plate came from senior Mikayla Martinez, who went 1 for 4 with six RBIs, including a grand slam in the fourth inning. Ganesha’s leadoff hitter Jayden Tamura also added four RBIs.
Equally impressive was Giants ace Kalena Lemus. After allowing a run in the first, Lemus dominated the Patriots lineup, striking out 15 in a complete-game effort.
“My nerves were pretty high in the first inning,” Lemus said. “But I knew my team had my back and that’s how I settled down.”
Before Ganesha scored 20 unanswered runs, the Giants and the Patriots were tied after the opening frame 1-1.
Ganesha’s Hollyn Gentry, who finished 4 for 5 with two RBIs, drove in Juliana Alberto in the first inning. Albertno reached base with a one-out triple.
The Patriots matched the Giants in the bottom of the first inning. Annistan Aragon drove in Carly Nelson from third after Nelson reached base on a one-out triple down the right-field line.
Ganesha took advantage of two errors in the second inning and scored three runs.
After the Giants put runners on first and second base, via a walk and single, Peck battled back with back-to-back strikeouts. With runners on second and third base, a soft ground ball to third baseman Alora Glass could have ended the inning but a slight bobble as Glass fielded the ball allowed Tamura to reach first safely and a run to score.
One batter later, first baseman Summer Hawlitzeck was unable to field the toss from Peck and the error allowed the Giants to add two more runs, making it 4-1.
Ganesha continued its onslaught in the fourth inning with a two-out grand slam by Martinez. The Giants loaded the bases with a single, walk and fielder’s choice before Martinez’s bomb gave Ganesha an 8-1 lead.
In the fifth inning, the Giants piled the runs to a historic level as they drove in 10 runs on seven hits. Of those seven hits, there were two triples and a double.
“I don’t know,” Joines said of the 21-run outburst. “(Martinez) hit a grand slam and it just opened up from there. Even when I brought in subs, we kept hitting. We found the holes and it was just one of those days the girls came to play.”
Ganesha added three runs, including a two-run, inside-the-park home run by Kaylee Lewis, in the top of the seventh inning.
Peck went the distance, pitching a complete game with 13 strikeouts and five walks.
21, Viewpoint 1