BERKELEY — Undefeated No. 1 seed College Prep of Oakland ended Upper Lake”s softball season with a 3-0 victory in the quarterfinal round of the North Coast Section Division V playoffs on Saturday in Berkeley.
College Prep (20-0) had scored in double digits in 10 of its 11 previous games but struggled to put runs on the board against Upper Lake”s Jessica Swaney, who tossed a five-hitter, striking out two and walking six.
“They told us that”s as tough as anyone has played them this season,” Upper Lake coach Kelly Coburn said of the College Prep coaching staff.
Winning pitcher Sadie Oliver-grey combined with reliever Natalie Laber on a six-hitter. Oliver-grey struck out nine and walked one in four innings.
“Almost as fast as Brittany Rumfelt,” Coburn said in comparing Oliver-grey to the former Clear Lake High School star who now plays for Oregon.
College Prep scored a run in the second and added two more in the third.
Upper Lake advanced one runner as far as third base and had another run at second.
“We had chances to capitalize, we just couldn”t hit,” Coburn said.
Upper Lake (12-9) was making its first playoff appearance since 2002. The Cougars beat Fremont Christian 16-1 in a first-round game, their first postseason victory since 1987.
“I”m happy with my season,” Coburn said.
Upper Lake loses only three players to gradution — seniors Swaney, Taryn Re and Lisa Irwin.
