Carson softball defeats Granada Hills for third City Open title in four years

SOUTH GATE - Ashannalee Titialii was understandably nervous going into Friday's L.A. City Section Open Division final.

Carson coach Rudy Aguirre had some concerns as well, mostly about Titialii's availability.

It didn't take long for both to have their nerves and concerns alleviated.

Titialii, playing in her first game since injuring her hamstring May 21, hit a two-run home run in the first inning to set the tone for the Colts in a 12-1 win over Granada Hills Charter at Legacy High to regain the City Open title.

The victory for the Colts (21-7) came in a contest shortened to five innings because of the mercy rule.

"She did a little hitting practice yesterday (Thursday) because we wanted to see how (her hamstring) felt," Aguirre said. "She hadn't played in a week and she came out and did that. She's probably the best kid I've ever coached."

Titialii's home run was part of a four-run first inning for the Colts.

In the second inning, the Colts added to their lead with Atiana Rodriguez's two-run double.

By the third inning, it was looking like a mercy-rule win was going to be how the Colts got their revenge for last season.

Entering Friday's game, the Colts and Highlanders had met three consecutive years in the Open Division final. The Colts won in 2023 and 2024; last year the Highlanders won by nine runs.

"Last year, losing hurt a lot," Carson junior pitcher Isabella Campo said. "Granada's a good team and they did what they had to do last year. But I feel like we showed out and wanted it way more and basically wanted our get back."

Anaiyah Popoalii drilled a two-run home run to give Carson an 8-0 lead in the third.

The Colts added four runs in the fourth. An RBI single from Rodriguez and a two-run double from Kiarah Chukwudi were part of the inning.

Even with a 12-0 lead, Aguirre wasn't totally at ease. He remembers what happed in the 2023 final when the Colts led Granada Hills 10-0, lost the lead before eventually winning 12-10.

"We never took anything for granted," Aguirre said. "Because we know what happened three years ago. We didn't want to go longer because they're a really good hitting team."

The Highlanders got on the board in the fifth and had runners on second and third with one out, before Campos retired the next two batters to secure the win.

"They know us well, so I'm just really proud of these girls," Aguirre said. "They had so much doubt, people were doubting us, saying that we weren't the same time, we were missing (seniors from last year), we had a girl transfer. It was a lot of turnover on this team, but they came through for us."

Titialii said she was determined to get back on the field.

"I was sliding and I just felt a pop," she said of the injury. "I did a lot of stretching, icing …I knew that I wasn't going to be able to come back in the second game, but something in me was like, I have to do it for my team, for the last game, especially since it's my last year.

"That first at-bat, honestly, I was just really nervous, especially since I hadn't been on the field in a week …I took some hacks yesterday, but I was still a little nervous going in, but I was just waiting for the inside pitch and soon as I got, I just put my whole body into it."

Copyright 2026 Tribune Content Agency. All Rights Reserved.