State NorCal DIV softball playoffs: Alisal pounds Newark Memorial

SALINAS — Add a single-season school record for wins to a growing resume of milestones for a softball program that is thriving in the spotlight.

Celebrating the program and school’s first girls Central Coast Section title last Saturday, Alisal has tied its school record for victories, opening the State Northern California Division IV tournament Tuesday with a 12-0 win over Newark Memorial in five innings.

Seeded No. 2 in the Division IV bracket after winning the CCS Division I title last Saturday, the Trojans are 4-0 in the playoffs, with a pitching staff that has allowed just two earned runs in 33 innings of work.

“I wanted to give them the day off on Wednesday,” Alisal coach John Nieto said. “These girls insisted on coming out for practice. It’s a group that realizes it’s making history.”

Alisal, who won the program’s first playoff game in 35-plus years when the postseason started, will host CCS Division III champion and No. 3 seed Live Oak of Morgan Hill — 9-8 winners over Amador in nine innings — on Thursday at 4 p.m.

During their current six-game winning streak, the Acorns — a former member of the old Tri-County Athletic League — have scored 70 runs.

“We will get on Game Changer and scout them,” Nieto said. “We’ll try and find out who their four best hitters are. Not too many high schools have two front-line pitchers like we do.”

Over its last 17 games, Alisal’s pitching staff of Nevaeh Lopez and Abigail Walker has combined for nine shutouts during a 16-1 run, the best stretch over 17 games in school history.

Walker, who started all three CCS playoff games, will draw the assignment on Thursday. Lopez tossed a gem in her first postseason start against North Coast Section power Newark Memorial, as the left-hander finished with a two-hit shutout.

“All the girls insisted on practicing tomorrow,” freshman shortstop Brooklyn Smith said. “We’re in a very good rhythm. Why disrupt it? We want to keep working.”

Alisal (21-5) is attempting to become the fourth team in the county to win a State NorCal softball title, joining Monterey, Alvarez and Salinas. Its boys’ soccer team won the school’s first State NorCal title in 2018.

“It’s a little weird practicing with school over and no homework to worry about,” laughed Smith, who will be playing on her travel ball team on Sunday. “It was very quiet.”

Champions of the Mission Valley League in the NCS, Newark Memorial (19-8) came into the game riding a 13-game winning streak. The 12 runs were the most it had allowed all season.

Yet, after a one-out single in the first inning, Lopez sent 11 of the next 12 hitters she faced back to the dugout, turning to her defense where Smith made a pair of plays at shortstop to take potential hits away.

“We felt we would be very competitive this spring,” Nieto said. “When you have athletes like Aubrey (Jones) and Brooklyn (Smith), it’s just a matter of putting them in the right positions to be successful.”

Nieto has five freshmen in his starting lineup. Yet, it was sophomore Ameryse Thatcher who ignited a seven-run first inning, clearing the bases with a double.

Production also came from Chloe Rubulcava — Saturday’s hitting hero with a home run, as she delivered a two-run double during the first inning barrage.

“We pitch very well and play outstanding defense,” Nieto said. “A lot of these kids play high-level club ball. These girls are used to high-stack games.”

Rubulcava continued her hot bat, doubling home a run in the second inning. Hitting in the No. 9 spot in the order, Thatcher led off the third inning with a triple, scoring on a single from Jones.

Hitting in the lead-off spot, Jones — the Gabilan Division’s Most Valuable Player in flag football last fall — finished with three hits and two RBI, while Rubalcava added two hits and three RBI.

Five of the Trojans 10 hits went for extra bases, as Thatcher doubled and tripled, driving in four runs, while Lopez helped herself at the plate, finishing with two hits and two RBI.

“I’ve watched my two older sisters play here,” said Smith, whose older sister Micah is the team’s center fielder. “As a freshman, it’s crazy to already be making history.”

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This story was originally published June 2, 2026 at 7:38 PM.