Mater Dei softball holds off San Clemente to grab spot in CIF-SS finals

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FOUNTAIN VALLEY — The Mater Dei softball team is headed back to the CIF Southern Section finals after a 10-year absence.

The Monarchs leaned on their ace, Citlaly Valencia, while Tulutululelei Salue and Ally Carrillo provided the offense in a 4-2 win over San Clemente in the Division 2 semifinals Saturday at Fountain Valley Sports Park.

Mater Dei (19-11) will face Whittier Christian in the championship game in Irvine next week.

Mater Dei coach Nicole Wise, who is in her first year at the helm, is enjoying the postseason ride.

"It’s just a huge accomplishment,” Wise said. “I mean, these girls have worked so hard the entire year from the moment we showed up in the weight room the first day in August. They’ve just worked so tremendously hard that there’s nothing that can get by them at this point.”

The Tritons (22-8) were in the game until the final out, as a solo home run by Emily Racine in the seventh pulled the Tritons within two runs.

Ryenn Roldan earned a walk for San Clemente and advanced to third base after a double by Sydney Bishop with two outs in the seventh. Marley Readman, who represented the potential go-ahead run, came to the plate.

Valencia, who finished with six strikeouts, displayed tremendous poise in the moment as she fanned Readman to end the game.

"You know, Laly (Valencia), she has a fight under her where nothing will faze her,” Wise said. “That's what everybody says. The girl (Racine) hit a home run and good for her, but it’s like it never even happened to Laly. She can let things go, and that’s the best part about watching her out there.

“I trust her and believe in her every step of the way because I know her being out there, she’s gonna get the job done and she’s gonna want that fight and she’s gonna want to earn it. And she did today."

"I know my team has my back always,” Valencia said, “so it just gives me a lot of confidence to persevere and finish the game strong. Even if we give up a home run, hey, you just gotta move past it."

After Valencia retired the first eight batters in order to start the game, the Tritons got on the board with two outs in the third inning using small ball tactics.

Bishop got on base with a great bunt down the third-base line, then stole second base and was brought home by Readman's RBI single to make it 1-0.

The Monarchs responded in the fourth inning. Danica Lancelotti hit a double and Savannah Duncan drove her in with a double.

Salue broke the tie in the fifth with a towering home run to left field that made it 3-1 and then Carrillo's solo homer extended Mater Dei's advantage to 4-1.

"It’s not the first time she’s come through like that," Wise said of Salue. "The entire year, she’s been our clutch hitter.”

"I knew I was due,” Salue said, “and I knew I had to do something for my team, especially if we were tied. I really wanted to get us going and try to be a leader up there for sure."

San Clemente coach Elmer Roldan felt his team was a play or two away from having a different outcome, but he took a moment to reflect on the Tritons’ season.

"Overall, I’m proud of the team,” he said. “We went far. I think this is our first time even making it to the semis in school history. So I’m really proud of the girls. They fought all season, came from behind. But in his game, we just came up short.”

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This story was originally published May 23, 2026 at 8:34 PM.