Timely hitting, baserunning and great defense, coupled with a downright dominant pitching performance from Jia Beebe, vaulted the Pioneer High School softball team past the No. 7-seeded Beyer 4-0 Friday evening and into the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division IV semifinals.

“They were focused today,” Pioneer head coach Linda Merria said. “We knew we were going to face a darn good pitcher, and all we had to do was believe that we were going to make contact, and we did. We scored right off the bat, and I think that helps with confidence.”

For the first time in recent history, the Patriots (22-5, 10-2, Monticello Empire League) softball program is one game away from the CIF SJS D4 title game as they will face the No. 6-seeded East Union Tuesday, May 20.

In the program’s history under head coach Linda Merria, the team has won three total section championships, with two other runner-up finishes.

Pioiener came into Friday evening’s quarterfinal showdown against Beyer after defeating 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.

Beyer (21-7, 12-2 Western Athletic Conference) came into the matchup after defeating the No. 10-seeded Twelve Bridges this past Tuesday by the score of 3-0. Following a three-way split of the WAC title alongside Livingston and Ceres, the team, also named the Patriots, was awarded the D4 No. 7 seed.

Following a now routine 1-2-3 inning from Beebe in the top of the first, star junior and Stanford verbal commit Marisa Bryson got things going for the Patriots offense with a first-inning double to score fellow junior and double play partner Garce McGinty, to make it 1-0.

Bryson then stole third base, setting herself up to easily score on an error from the Beyer catcher to make it 2-0.

Following another 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second and two consecutive outs to start the top of the third, Beebe ran into her first bit of trouble in months, loading the bases with Beyer’s base runners. She remained calm, however, and managed to induce a flyout to center field, preserving the Patriots’ 2-0 lead.

“Jia was awesome,” Merrida said. “She’s not really a strikeout pitcher, but she’ll hit her spots and let the defense do the work. I don’t think she worries about the stats because she really a team player. She always stays pumped. Nothing ever bothers her even if she has a bad at bat.”

After another two innings of ruthless efficiency from both pitchers and their defenses, the Patriots got two more insurance runs for Beebe in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-0.

With one out, Sofia Castro and Abril Parker would hit back-to-back singles. Sophia O’Quelly would come up and hit a grounder to third base, reaching on an error that allowed Castro to score and Parker to advance to third. The Patriots then traded an out for a final run after Zayda Rodriguez grounded out to shortstop, allowing Parker to score from third and make it 4-0.

A walk in the top of the fifth awarded to Beyer’s Lily Robinson, a Beebe single in the bottom of the fifth, a Castro single in the bottom of the sixth and a last gasp single from Beyer’s Alanna Verges in the top of the seventh were the only non outs of the final two and half innings as Beebe cruised to the end of the game.

Along with throwing a complete seven innings, Beebe would only allow 2 hits, 2 walks, and strike out 5 batters to cap off her gem from the circle.

“Honestly, I think we stayed focused,” Bryson said. “We jumped on them early and played solid defense throughout the whole game, and that was really what won us the game.”

Parker led the way for the Patriots with a game-high 3 hits to go with her run scored. Castro and Bryson each had 2 hits, with Bryson scoring a run and driving one in.

Up next for the Patriots will be the semifinal showdown against the No. 6-seeded East Union, which just upset the No. 3 seed Yuba City by the score of 9-8 Friday. The first pitch is set for 4 p.m. at Pioneer High School.

“I’m excited for the semifinal,” Merrida said. “I would not want to travel to where the game would be. Teams have to come to us. We have some idea of what East Union is all about. We just need to continue to play good defense, have timely hitting and better baserunning. I think we lost out on a few runs today.”

“I’m hoping to see another game like today where we are focused, our bats are hot, and our defense is clean,” Bryson said. “I think that’s all we need to do to make it to the final. I’ve never made it to the third round yet, so to have the semifinal game at home is pretty awesome.”