There is some debate on the Point Loma High School softball coaching staff about when the Pointers first played varsity softball. Some think the late 1970s. Others lean to the early ’80s. This much, though, is certain.
The Pointers have never played for a CIF San Diego Section championship. That will change come 4 p.m. Friday at San Diego State.
On a cloudy afternoon at Correia Middle School, with planes taking off in the distance from Lindbergh Field, Point Loma defeated Rancho Buena Vista 6-3 on Tuesday afternoon, advancing to Friday’s Division 2 championship game.
Point Loma, which is celebrating its 100th year, will meet West Hills.
“It feels like, almost like, unreal,” said freshman pitcher Ellin Poulin, who tossed a complete game and until the seventh inning had allowed no runs and only one it.
“I think we knew we had a good chance at this,” said first baseman Leyton Maherson, a sophomore who went 2-for-4 and knocked in four runs. “I’m proud we followed through.”
The Pointers are well aware they made history. When Poulin struck out the last batter of the game, players sprinted out of the dugout and ed those on the field, hopping up and down in a mosh pit of celebration.
“I’m happy to be able to do this with my sister, as well as all the girls I grew up with, all the seniors,” said catcher Avery Maherson, who went 2-for-4 and had pinch runners sub for her, scoring two runs.
Point Loma (24-6-1) scored two runs in the third inning on Leyton Maherson’s single. In the fifth, the Pointers opened with a home run by freshman Sienna Balistreri, single, single, single, single, strikeout, single to score four runs.
Poulin, meanwhile, was dominating until the seventh when Rancho Buena Vista (16-13) pushed across three runs on three hits and a walk.
“Props to them. It was good hitting,” said Poulin. “I did get a little tired. But they did have good at-bats and barreled up (the ball).”
“If you’d have seen her face that last inning,” said Avery Maherson. “She was squinting, focused. Like mad at herself (that) she didn’t get them out right away.”
Poulin, now 11-4, closed the game in style, striking out the final two batters.
“She’s been a bulldog all year,” said coach Bill Hunyady. “She pitches in trouble as well as anybody. There was a moment when I thought we’d go with another pitcher. But a coach said, ‘No, she’ll get it.’ ”
The Pointers are literally a sister-sister act, with three sets of sisters.
The Mahersons are the daughters of longtime Gulls hockey player B.J. Maherson. Avery is hitting .411 with 21 RBI. Leyton is hitting .353 with a team-best 26 RBI.
Of their father’s influence, Leyton Maherson said: “He basically is my biggest er. He definitely has his opinion and knows the fine line. He knows how to push us.”
Added Avery Maherson: “We are the way we are because of our dad.”
Hunyady said the Mahersons bring a tough-girl hockey mentality to the diamond.
“They’re tough kids,” said the coach. “They’re at every workout. They don’t miss anything. They’re leaders. They’re all business.”
