Beaumont Advances into CIF Semifinal

It’s clear that Beaumont’s softball team has shed itself of all playoff jitters.

The Cougars leaped into championship mode on Thursday and the result was an impressive 9-4 CIF-Southern Section Div. 5 win over visiting Lompoc Cabrillo.

The win lands Beaumont (24-4) in its first CIF semifinal appearance, which it will host on Tuesday against the winner of the quarterfinal encounter between Orange League champion Savanna and Mission Valley League champion Arroyo.

“It’s amazing…the feeling is indescribable,” Beaumont’s Jayme Tickemyer said. “It’s like all the hard work is really paying off. The sacrifices like missing our vacation during spring break, all the hard work; it is all starting to pay off.

It was the 11th straight win for the second seeded Cougars and they have now won 16 of their last 17 games.

“Cabrillo is a good team but they really caught us on a good day,” Coach Tickemyer said. “It wasn’t our best win but it was one of our best. It’s a great time to be playing great softball.”

Beaumont took control of the game in the second inning and it came in thrilling fashion as the Cougars utilized three straight at-bats to take a 4-0 lead. Kelsey Dodson got the Cougars started when she fired a RBI double off the fence in right center. One at-bat later Lauren Hernandez singled into right to bring in another run, giving Beaumont a 2-0 lead. One at-bat later Stephanie Tickemyer thrilled the crowd with a two run home run over the fence at right center.

In the third inning Beaumont went up 5-0 when Kristen Neal’s sacrifice grounder drove in Jayme Tickemyer.

And while Beaumont was dictating the game with their bats, pitcher Alyssa Fuimaono was dominating on the mound. Fuimaono retired the side in each of the first four innings and struck out four of the six batters she faced in the second and third frames.

“We were on cruise control,” Coach Tickemyer said.  “Once we get going like that we are hard to stop. The momentum we had was amazing.”

Beaumont didn’t let up. The Cougars continued to roll in the fifth inning and added four runs to take a commanding 9-0 lead. That rally was highlighted by the at-bat of Krista Valdivia, who sent a shot over the left field fence. Moments earlier she was placed in the lineup for what was her only plate appearance of the game.

“To be playing for a semifinal spot and to be at home, you really can’t ask for much better of game,” Coach Tickemyer said. “If we hit the ball the way we did today, we will be hard to stop.”

It was a tough task for Cabrillo, who first had to deal with a half-day drive before stepping onto the field. Cabrillo is located in Vandenberg Village near Lompoc, on the outskirts of Santa Barbara County – just over a four hour drive.

Still, the Conquistadores (18-12) didn’t lay down after Beaumont jumped to its lead.

The Conquistadores loaded the bases in the sixth inning and then made it a 9-4 game with a grand slam off Fuimaono.

Fuimaono, who scattered four hits and struck out nine, struck out the first batter in the seventh. Then her defense turned a game-ending double play.

“I got a little tired,” Fuimaono said. “I couldn’t get a strike but I wasn’t going to let them beat me on my home field. I took a deep breath and we got them.”