CHELSEA MARI (far right) is about to get mobbed by her teammates after hitting a walk-off home run in the TCAL semifinals.

Chelsea Mari hit a pair of home runs and Taya de Alba pitched a three-hit shutout as the St. Patrick-St. Vincent High softball team beat visiting Salesian, 10-0, in six innings in Tuesday’s Tri-County Athletic League semifinals.

It was the third win for SPSV in three tries this season against Salesian – the defending TCAL and North Coast Section champion – and sends the Lady Bruins to the league championship game today at home against Pinole Valley. Today’s winner gets an automatic bid to the NCS playoffs.

“This game was very satisfying and was probably the best game we’ve played all year,” said SPSV manager Rich Gigliotti after completing a season sweep of the Lady Pride. “Taya pitched really well, we were perfect defensively, and we stung the ball all day long and never struck out. I don’t think we can play any better.”

Mari had a spectacular day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with two homers, three runs and four RBIs. Mari blasted a two-run homer in the fourth inning and ended the game with a walk-off solo homer leading off the bottom of the sixth. Mari hit two homers in one game for the first time in her SPSV career.

“I was just looking to get a hit, get on base and let my teammates score me,” Mari said of her second homer. “I was really relaxed and just did my thing.”

Neenah Pangilinan led off the bottom of the first with a double and scored on a two-out double by Jaydee Boursaw to give SPSV a quick 1-0 lead. Singles by Marisa Avalos and Natalya Ocon and a sacrifice fly by Pangilinan added another run in the second inning.

The Lady Bruins (21-4) took complete control with a four-run third inning. Mari got things started with a single and Boursaw, de Alba and Olivia Soley followed with consecutive doubles. Mari’s homer capped a three-run fourth inning that made it 9-0.

That was more than enough run support for de Alba, who struck out three and only walked one. The senior retired the last 11 batters she faced and was supported by some great outfield defense, including two spectacular catches by Avalos in center.

“We’re really confident right now,” Mari said. “Our pitching is going good and the defense is great. Now our offense is coming around.”

Pangilinan ended up going 3-for-3 as the Lady Bruins pounded Salesian for 16 hits. Boursaw, de Alba, Avalos and Ocon each had two hits, with de Alba driving in a pair.

Skye Salas, Meghan Bradbury and Madison Pozzi had the only hits for Salesian (8-9).

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