Bishop Diego held off Grace Brethren, 10-9, to claim third place in the Frontier League and earn a CIF softball playoff berth.
In a game played at St. Bonaventure on Friday, the Cardinals opened up a five-run lead in the first inning with Coleen Duley driving in two runs with a triple to deep left field.
Grace Brethren battled back and tied the score at 8-8 in the top of the fifth.
Bishop regained the lead at 10-8 when Ashlynd Williams drove in two runs with a triple.
The Cardinals came up with some big defensive plays to protect the lead. They turned a double play in the top of the sixth to get out of a jam and right fielder Ava DeNunzio made a clutch catch with a runner at second base. Third baseman Ali Everson also made a big play
Team captain Madison Ballard-Rozok pitched 3 innings in spite of a sore arm and shoulder and made a great running catch in left field. Williams pitched the last four innings.
Talia Van Wingerden went 3-for-3 and Marissa Cordero went 2-3 and made a spectacular over-the-shoulder catch at second base.
