City Girls’ Softball Semifinals : Banning Wins, but Streak Ends for Bautista

Lisa Bautista had 16 strikeouts and gave up only three hits Wednesday while pitching Banning High past Kennedy, 6-0, and into next week’s City 4-A girls’ softball title game.

In the game at South Gate Park, Bautista gave up a single to the first batter, Kennedy shortstop Crissy Erickson, ending her streak of seven consecutive no-hitters, a national high school record. Bautista’s 16 strikeouts gave the senior a total of 46 for three playoff games.

In the final, Banning (21-3) will face top-seeded El Camino Real, a 6-0 winner over Van Nuys. El Camino Real (18-0), the two-time defending champion, got a no-hitter and nine strikeouts from freshman Beth Silverman, who has now thrown six no-hitters this season. Darci Stehlik hit a two-run homer for El Camino Real.

In the 3-A semifinals, senior Madre Cross gave up only three hits as South Gate upset defending champion Westchester, 6-3. South Gate will face Venice, a 6-5 winner over Roosevelt, in the final. Third baseman Susie Bucher had three hits, one a triple, to lead Venice. Earlier this season, South Gate defeated Venice, 9-2.

Both the 4-A and 3-A finals are scheduled next Wednesday at South Gate Park.