SOFTBALL: Navarro, Shelton Power Cap into Semis

On a day when the Capuchino High softball team left its gloves at home, the Mustangs’ bats came to the rescue.

Timely hitting helped the Mustangs overcome four errors in a 5-1 victory over Christopher of Gilroy in the Central Coast Section Division III quarterfinals on Saturday at Hawes Field in Redwood City.

Second-seeded Capuchino (21-6) will need a cleaner defensive game when it plays No. 3 seed Notre Dame of Salinas (18-10) in the semifinals on Wednesday at 7 p.m. at PAL Stadium in San Jose. Notre Dame has won 10 Division III championships since 1996.

In the quarterfinals, catcher led the Mustangs offensively with three hits including a triple, a homer and two RBIs.

Four of the Mustangs' seven hits went for extra bases.

Navarro’s bat, in particular, was “incredibly crucial,” Capuchino coach Todd Grammatico said.

Navarro’s solo homer in the third gave the Mustangs a 2-1 lead they would never relinquish. She also had a run-scoring triple that followed Jessica Shelton’s two-run triple in a three-run sixth that gave Capuchino some breathing room and their coach a sense of relief.

“I was really sweating it until the sixth inning,” Grammatico said. “Generally, when we play sloppy like we did today, we lose.”

The Mustangs scored the game’s first run in the bottom of the first when Ariana Wassmer doubled in Alexis Coulter.

Capuchino pitcher threw a four-hitter. She struck out three batters and allowed one walk.

“Our girls never let down,” Grammatico said. “They played tough and they never let down on themselves.

“Normally when we have a game like this it gets away from us.”

Capuchino is seeking its second straight trip to the Division III title game.

“Last year’s team was hungrier, they worked harder,” Grammatico said.

Nevertheless, Capuchino will take the ugly win.

“I told them after the game ‘enjoy it, and get ready for the next game,’ ” Grammatico said.

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Capuchino 5, Christopher 1

Christopher -- 010 000 0 – 1 4 2

Capuchino -- 102 003 x – 5 7 4

WP: Pilster. LP: Alvera.

HR: Navarro (C). 3B: Shelton, Navarro (C). 2B: Wassmer (C). 3 hits: Navarro (C). 2 RBI: Shelton, Navarro (C).

Records: Capuchino 21-6. Christopher 17-11.