GRAND TERRACE — If there’s one thing the Grand Terrace softball team has done well in 2025 it’s hit the ball.
The Titans averaged nearly 11 runs per game over a 10-game winning streak that finished off a 10th straight Sunkist League title. However, the offense was held in check Thursday, as Grand Terrace left 10 runners on base in a 5-4 loss to Downey in a CIF Southern Section Division 2 playoff opener.
Downey (19-10) will host Great Oak, a 10-8 winner over Torrance, in Saturday afternoon’s second round. Grand Terrace finishes its season at 21-8.
“We’ve played good softball all year, but when it counted today we just didn’t have it,” Titans coach Bobby Flores said. “Give Downey their credit because they threw a solid game and got key outs when they needed to.”
Grand Terrace jumped out to a 2-0 lead after three innings. The first run scored on error in the first inning, and Payton Orem had an RBI double with two outs in the third inning. Orem’s double chased Downey starting pitcher Giana Castillo-Flores after 2 2/3 innings of work.
Leilani Kaiwi-Gonzales got the win in relief for Downey, allowing two runs and three hits in 4 2/3 innings of work while striking out four and walking three.
Downey tied it up in the top of the fourth inning as Madeline Garcia’s single scored a pair of runs off Grand Terrace starter Samantha Lotus. Ilyana Rangel came on in relief for Grand Terrace and loaded the bases with a walk to her first batter. However, the sophomore got a strikeout and flyout to keep the game tied.
Grand Terrace took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning on Summer Sanderson’s RBI double to left field with two outs. Sanderson was 3 for 3 in the loss with a pair of doubles.
Downey’s Jade Gonzalez then tied the game with a two-out, RBI double to left field in the fifth. Gonzalez was 3 for 4 with three doubles and two RBIs to lead the Vikings offense.
The Vikings used aggressive baserunning to take a 4-3 lead in the sixth inning. Sophia Hernandez singled with one out and came around to score when Jiselle Rocha was caught in a rundown between first and second base with two outs.
“We’ve played from behind for much of the year, so the early deficit wasn’t unfamiliar and they weren’t phased by it,” Vikings coach Ed Garcia said. “We know we’re in for a test on Saturday against a quality team, but we’ll be at home and more than ready to give it our best shot.
Gonzalez’s final double in the sixth inning scored Delilah Navarro and gave the Vikings a 5-3 lead.
“It’s about fighting for and trusting the person next to you until that final out,” Gonzalez said. “When we have fun we play good softball and that’s what we’ll do on Saturday.”
Grand Terrace tried to rally in the seventh. Jazmine Gonzales singled and advanced to third base on an error with two outs. Leah Navarro’s infield single scored Gonzales and cut Downey’s lead to 5-4, but Alani Mailo’s flyout to center field ended the game.
