Grace High School Baseball and Westlake Softball Achieve Playoff Victories

Grace High School baseball team and Westlake High School softball team in action during CIF-SS playoffs.

News Summary

Grace High School’s baseball team secured a crucial victory in the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs by defeating Silverado 14-8. Simultaneously, Westlake High School’s softball team celebrated a 4-0 win against Mission Viejo in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals. Both teams showcased impressive performances, with standout players contributing to their respective victories, advancing further in the playoffs and thrilling local sports fans.

Grace, California – The Grace High School baseball team achieved a significant victory in the CIF-SS Division 7 playoffs, defeating Silverado 14-8 on May 20, 2025. Alongside this, the Westlake High School softball team celebrated their success in the CIF-SS Division 3 quarterfinals, winning 4-0 against Mission Viejo on May 21, 2025.

In the baseball matchup, Grace High School showcased its offensive power, led by notable performances. Dylan Ferguson, the team’s third baseman, made a remarkable play in the seventh inning, where he threw a powerful ball to first base, causing his glasses to fly off as he secured an out. The pitching effort from Rudy Gargiulo was also a crucial element, helping to keep the competition tight.

The game included some intense moments, with Brady Borgstrom from Grace High being tagged out by Silverado’s Jace Weiss during an aggressive slide into home base in the first inning. However, Grace High ultimately rallied to claim their spot in the next round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, Westlake’s softball team demonstrated strong performance and teamwork in their quarterfinal matchup against Mission Viejo. The highlights of this game included Kira Palmer hitting a single in the fifth inning, which energized the Westlake team. Olivia Tirsch also made notable contributions by successfully stealing home, further solidifying Westlake’s lead in the game. Presley Watters was a key player on the mound as the pitcher for Westlake, contributing to the team’s shutout victory.

The CIF-SS playoffs for both baseball and softball commenced on May 15, 2025, with an impressive turnout of over 17 local softball teams and 9 local baseball teams entering the competition. This has been a thrilling season for local teams, with various standout performances across the board.

Several notable achievements have emerged in the playoffs so far. Channel Islands baseball team staged a dramatic comeback to defeat Coachella Valley 4-3 after trailing 3-0, showcasing resilience and determination. On the softball side, Azaria Aguilar led St. Bonaventure to a narrow 6-5 victory with a solo home run in the seventh inning, a testament to her skills under pressure. Additionally, Oaks Christian softball team made waves with an impressive 11-1 win against Camarillo in the Division 1 first round, demonstrating their strength in this tournament.

The Hueneme softball team also displayed dominance in their opening matchup, defeating Pomona Catholic with an outstanding score of 13-2. Meanwhile, Westlake altered the game’s momentum with a critical four-run inning that allowed them to secure a 7-3 victory over Schurr.

On a different note, Ventura softball faced a challenging game in their first playoff appearance in 12 years. Although they fought hard, they ended up succumbing to a strong comeback from the opposing team, concluding the match with a score of 8-6.

The CIF-SS playoffs continue to provide exciting moments and fierce competition among local teams, as players and coaches strive for success in the remainder of this season’s tournament.