Thanks to a complete team effort, highlighted by a towering home run from junior Caitlyn Mayfield, the Pioneer High School softball team clinched its ticket to the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV championship, following an 8-2 win over East Union in the section semifinal Tuesday afternoon.

With the win, the Patriots will face off against the No. 1 overall seed in D4, Destiny Christian Academy, on Saturday at 10 a.m. at Sacramento State University.

“We had some good pitching today,” Pioneer head coach Linda Merrida said. “Also, there were some great calls from Ashley Gruben to Caitlyn Mayfield, who was behind the dish. We had some really good double plays, including Marisa’s, who leaped really high up for a ball. Our short game also really came into the picture with some timely hits.”In the program’s history, the Patriots won three section championships, including the first in 2006 and back-to-back championships in 2013 and 2014. They have been the runner-up two other times.

The Patriots (23-5, 10-2, Monticello Empire League) came into Tuesday evening’s final four showdown against the No. 6-seeded East Union after defeating the No. 7-seeded Beyer 4-0 in this past Friday’s quarterfinal. Before that, they easily took care of the No. 15-seeded Del Campo 16-1 in the opening round this past Tuesday.

After splitting the MEL title three ways alongside Vacaville and Vanden during their inaugural season in the new league, the Patriots were graciously awarded the No. 2 overall seed in D4 and parlayed that into three straight playoff wins.

East Union (17-13, 4-8 Valley Oak League) rode into the matchup after a thrilling 9-8 upset win over the No. 3-seeded Yuba City this past Friday in the D4 quarterfinals. Before that, they beat No. 11 seed Wood 5-3 in the opening round. The Lancers earned the No. 6 seed thanks to a fifth-place finish in the VOL behind Central Catholic, Mountain House, Oakdale and Manteca.

The visitors led off the first inning with a single before Patriots starting pitcher Jia Beebe rolled off her customary three straight outs to get out of an early jam.

In the bottom half of the inning, the Patriots looked poised to take a huge lead as they’d load up the bases with only one out. But a strikeout, followed by a flyout, stranded all three runners and kept the game scoreless.

After a quiet second inning, East Union took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third after a line drive single. The Patriots responded right away with four of their own runs, including a 2-run homer from Mayfield, to take a 4-1 lead.

Following a Grace McGinty leadoff walk, Beebe would sacrifice her over to second base with a bunt. Junior Marisa Bryson was then smartly intentionally walked, setting up the stage for a Sofia Hernandez single that scored both McGinty and Bryson, making it 2-1

Mayfield then stepped up and locked in after reaching two strikes and blasted a ball over the left field fence for a home run, driving in Hernandez and herself, to make it 4-1.

“That home run really generated some energy and was at a huge point in the game as it made it 4-1,” Merrida recalled. “For her to hit that home run was great for her comeback. She’s been waiting all season because she only played three games before she got injured earlier in the year.”

After playing just a handful of games to start the year, Mayfield was out for months with an injury. Upon her return, catcher Ashley Gruben went down with her own injury, leaving Mayfield as the team’s answer to fill the position.

Despite playing in only her seventh game back, and with a heavy heart after bad news the night before, Mayfield managed to play one of her best games of the season at the most critical juncture.

“I lost my uncle last night, so to come out here today and go 3-3 with a walk felt amazing,” Mayfield said. “I was really trying to protect after reaching two strikes (on the home run). I was just trying to get on base and do anything I could. It felt like the spirits were here for me and everything.”

In the bottom of the fourth, Pioneer added another run after Bryson hit a sacrifice fly to left, allowing McGinty to tag up from third base and make it 5-1.

After a quiet fifth inning, Beebe ran into her biggest trouble of the game, allowing a rare leadoff single to kick off the sixth.

Following a pop out, another rarity for the Patriots occurred in the form of a fielding error that allowed an East Union player to be safe at first. A single then drove in a run to make it 5-2. With still only one out, a walk then loaded up the bases.

With things looking dire, Beebe remained calm and attacked the next batter.

After a foul, everyone’s hearts stopped on the second pitch, as a line drive from the batter’s box looked destined to land safely in the left field grass. Bryson wasn’t ready to give up the three-run cushion, so she took a few steps back, leaped into the air, and made a fantastic catch for the second out before landing back on earth and throwing it back to third base to catch the baserunner out to complete the double play.

Beebe finished the game throwing a complete seven innings, only allowing a hit, a walk and striking out one.

In the bottom of the sixth, Bryson kept at it, drawing a leadoff walk, before stealing second base, and making it to third on a fielder’s choice. Mayfield stepped up and drove in her game-high third and final run, scoring Bryson to make it 6-2.

A few base runners later, the inning looked sure to be over as Sophia O’Quelly would hit a fly ball to shallow left field. Somehow, the ball found the grass instead of an East Union glove, allowing Kylie Cueva and Sofia Castro to score, make it 8-2, and send the Patriots into the CIF SJS D4 final.

Mayfield finished the game with 3 RBI, 2 hits, and a run. Bryson finished the game with 2 runs and an RBI. Hernandez and Abril Parker also had 2 hits each.

Next will be the D4 final against Destiny Christian Academy, which earned the No. 1 seed in the division following an undefeated season in the Golden Empire League, the league in which the Patriots were in last season. The final is set for Saturday, May 24, at 10 a.m. at Sacramento State.

“We need to put the ball in play against their pitcher,” Merrida said. “We need to play our normal defense, and if we get opportunities, we need to capitalize. We may not get too many hits. If we can put the ball in play, we will see.”

“We need to have energy and effort and be there for everyone,” Mayfield said. “We don’t need any negativity. If we have good energy the whole game, I think we will do great.”