Orange Lutheran softball powers past Santa Margarita to keep grip on first place

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ORANGE — Orange Lutheran pitcher Rylee Silva didn’t rub her leg Friday after being struck by a sizzling comebacker off the turf in the fourth inning against Santa Margarita.

The sophomore said she shed “one tear” but catcher Cate Medvitz noticed something else.

“I feel like her (pitching) swing got better after that for some reason,” Medvitz said. “She pushed through the pain and I feel like that comeback really helped our game gain momentum.”

Orange Lutheran scored four runs in the fifth inning and three in the sixth to race past visiting Santa Margarita 8-0 and maintain sole possession of first place in the Trinity League.

Silva sparked the fifth with a two-run home run and Mia Scott followed with a two-run double.

Orange Lutheran is ranked No. 2 in Orange County, behind No. 1 Fullerton.

The Lancers (18-6, 5-1) hit three home runs and received six shutout innings from Silva to keep No. 5 Santa Margarita (17-6, 3-3) from moving into a tie for first place.

The Lancers also bounced back from a loss to No. 6 JSerra (18-7, 3-3) on Tuesday.

“That was a big game,” said Orange Lutheran coach Steve Miklos, whose team is seeking a seventh straight Trinity League title. “Now we’ve got three game left (in league) with a two-game lead.”

Miklos and Medvitz were among those who checked on Silva after Scarlett LaBriola blasted a comebacker for one of the Eagles’ three hits.

“I didn’t know if I should cry or laugh,” Silva said. “I had one tear and I was like I’m just going to laugh. I’m just going to push through. This will help me. I do this for my team.”

“I know my team will have my back,” she added.

Third baseman Carlie Snyder led off the sixth with her team-leading sixth home run.

Medvitz started the scoring with a solo home run with two outs in the second off starter Lyla Morales.

Orange Lutheran showed its grit in running its composite score this spring against Santa Margarita to 21-0.

Left fielder Alyssa McClure made a diving catch along the foul line with runners at first and second in the third.

Scott raced for a triple in the fourth after Santa Margarita’s misplayed the outfield relay. The sophomore center fielder went 3 for 3 with a single, double and triple.

And Silva hit a home run, her third, after attempting a bunt on the previous pitch.

“All of us are very tough, especially with Rylee’s comebacker,” Snyder said. “Physically but also mentally we’re tough. We know if the person in front of us strikes out, we have the capability of being able to pick them up. We always want to help out our team.”

“Every game we need to bring our A game to fight and battle and win Trinity League,” the San Jose State commit added.

Silva (12-2) went 2 for 3 to help fuel the Lancers’ 11-hit attack and tallied six strikeouts. Jojo Marsh pitched the seventh to combined on the shutout.

Medvitz, a North Dakota commit, also had two hits.

Morales, a junior, allowed one run on only two hits through four innings.

Also in the Trinity League on Friday, JSerra moved into a second-place tie with Santa Margarita with a 2-0 win against Mater Dei. Florida-bound Liliana Escobar fired a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts.

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This story was originally published April 24, 2026 at 8:59 PM.