Prep softball roundup: Liliana Escobar pitches JSerra to 1-0 win over Garden Grove Pacifica

May 21, 2026 - 08:57

The JSerra softball team is heading to the Southern Section Division 1 semifinals after a tense pitcher's duel on Thursday. Senior right-hander Liliana Escobar was the star of the show, firing a complete-game shutout and striking out 10 batters to lead the Lions to a 1-0 victory over Garden Grove Pacifica.

Escobar was in control from the first pitch, mixing her pitches effectively and keeping the Pacifica hitters off balance all afternoon. She allowed just a handful of hits and walked only one, relying on her defense to make plays behind her when needed. The lone run of the game came in the early innings, as JSerra managed to scratch across a single score against Pacifica's own standout pitcher.

The win sets up a semifinal showdown with Norco, a powerhouse program that has been a fixture in the later rounds of the playoffs. JSerra will need another strong outing from Escobar and timely hitting to advance to the championship game. For now, the Lions are celebrating a hard-fought victory that keeps their season alive.