GALT, CA (MPG) - The Liberty Ranch High School softball team turned a strong regular season into a postseason statement before seeing its playoff run come to an end in the quarterfinals.

Led by Head Coach Vince Bunac, the Hawks finished second in league play, earned the No. 4 seed in the playoff bracket and opened the postseason last Wednesday with an emphatic 18-0 victory over No. 13 Woodland. Two days later, Liberty Ranch faced No. 5 Casa Roble, a team it had beaten earlier in the season, but the rematch went the other way as the Hawks fell 6-2 on Friday.

Still, the week captured much of what made Liberty Ranch’s season successful: a deep lineup, strong pitching, dependable defense and a senior class that helped carry the program into the playoffs.

The Hawks wasted no time in their playoff opener, scoring three runs in the first inning, seven in the second and eight in the third to take complete control against Woodland. Liberty Ranch finished with 18 runs on 13 hits, drew six walks, reached twice on errors and did not strike out. The Hawks hit .500 as a team, posted a .588 on-base percentage, slugged .692 and finished with a 1.280 OPS. They also played error-free defense, finishing with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage on 19 total chances.

Bella Granata delivered the biggest offensive performance of the day, going 4-for-4 with a home run, six RBIs and one run scored. Her home run was Liberty Ranch’s lone homer of the game, and she finished with a 1.750 slugging percentage and 2.750 OPS. Granata also handled five defensive chances without an error and caught starting pitcher Laura Quinn.

 

Carlie Perez connects with the ball.

Shelby Duarte also helped power the Hawks’ offense, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Carlie Perez went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored, while K. Springmeyer finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a run scored. Xiana Juarez added a hit and two RBIs, and Cruz Gregorio went 1-for-2 with two RBIs, including a sacrifice fly.

Khali Barrantes was a major part of the offensive pressure from the top of the lineup, reaching base twice, scoring four runs and adding a hit. Gianna Farren reached three times, going 1-for-2 with a walk, a hit-by-pitch and three runs scored. Mariella Granata did not record an official at-bat but still made a significant impact, drawing three walks, scoring two runs and stealing two bases. Ava Van Warmerdam also reached on an error as the Hawks kept pressure on Woodland throughout the shortened game.

In the circle, Liberty Ranch’s pitching matched the offense. Quinn earned the win with three shutout innings, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five. Gregorio finished the game with two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Together, Quinn and Gregorio combined for five innings, three hits allowed, one walk and nine strikeouts on 92 pitches. Quinn threw to Bella Granata, while Farren caught Gregorio.

The defense was just as clean behind them. Barrantes, Farren, Gregorio, Perez, Bella Granata, Duarte and Mariella Granata all handled their chances without an error. Farren recorded four putouts, Bella Granata had five, Perez had three and Duarte added two assists as Liberty Ranch closed out a complete playoff-opening performance.

Friday’s quarterfinal matchup against Casa Roble proved tougher. Liberty Ranch entered as the No. 4 seed against the No. 5 seed and had beaten Casa Roble earlier in the season, but this time the Hawks could not generate the same offensive momentum. Casa Roble scored early and held Liberty Ranch scoreless until the fifth inning, when the Hawks pushed across both of their runs.

 

Mariella Granata slides into second and is called safe.

Liberty Ranch finished the quarterfinal with two runs on four hits. Barrantes, Farren, Springmeyer and Duarte each had one hit for the Hawks, and Springmeyer drove in Liberty Ranch’s lone RBI. Gregorio and Bella Granata scored the Hawks’ two runs. The Hawks drew four walks, with Gregorio, Bella Granata and Juarez reaching via free passes, but Liberty Ranch left eight runners on base.

Gregorio started on the mound with 4.2 innings of pitching, allowing four runs, one earned, and striking out six. Quinn took over in the circle and threw 2.1 innings, allowing two runs, one earned, while striking out three. The two Liberty Ranch pitchers combined for nine strikeouts in seven innings.

Although the season ended with the 6-2 loss, Bunac said the Hawks’ year should be remembered for the progress, resilience and accomplishments that came before the final out.

“What a ride it was this season,” Bunac said. “This group had some amazing accomplishments: finishing second in league, earning a high playoff seed and winning that first playoff game. It is always tough when it ends, and it is especially tough to see these six seniors move on. Some of them will continue playing in college, and all of them have meant so much to this program.”

For Liberty Ranch, the quarterfinal loss closed the book on a season that included a second-place league finish, a No. 4 playoff seed, a dominant first-round postseason win and a senior class that helped raise expectations for the program. The Hawks’ playoff run ended sooner than they hoped, but their season still left behind plenty to build on.

 

 

Shelby Duarte is safe at third after being forced to plow through the Woodland player blocking the base.