Beaumont Softball To Host Playoff Opener

Beaumont will open the CIF-Southern Section Div. 5 softball playoffs on Thursday.

The Mountain Pass League champion Cougars will host the winner of Tuesday’s wildcard contest between Santa Ynez and host St. Monica.

Beaumont swept through the MPL schedule by winning 14 of its 15 league games, the only blemish being a hard fought defeat to league runner-up Hemet. The Cougars (21-4) are riding a seven game win streak.

Beaumont has sported a balanced attack throughout the season. The Cougars are batting .369 as a team with batting leaders including Krista Valdivia (.486),  Stephanie Tickemyer (39 hits) and Alyssa Fuimaono (32 RBI). Fuimaono has struck out 166 batters in 149 innings of work. As a team the Cougars have belted out 23 home runs and 54 doubles.

As for the two possible opponents, St. Monica is the No. 3 team out of the Camino Real League. The Mariners were on the verge of a strong regular season finish but cooled off by splitting their last six games.

St. Monica, a co-ed private school in Santa Monica, has been anchored by the pitching of Alex Wolansky (14-7). Wolansky has struck out 131 batters and has 19 complete games.

Santa Ynez is an at-large berth out of the Los Padres League. The Pirates (6-5-1, 12-11-1) won their last two regular season games to earn playoff consideration. In those wins the Pirates outscored Santa Maria and Mission Prep 25-2.

Thursday’s game is scheduled for a 3:15 p.m. start on the Cougar’s home field. In case of rain or field problems the game may be relocated to nearby Noble Creek Park.