Summerlin South softball wins semifinal, one win away from Little League World Series berth

Summerlin South’s softball squad secured a 5‑0 victory over Southern California (2‑2) in the elimination‑bracket semifinal of the Little League Softball West Region Tournament held in San Bernardino, California, on Wednesday. The win improves the Nevada team’s record to 3‑1 and places them one game away from a berth at the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, North Carolina. Starting pitcher Raelyn Lingenfelter held Southern California to a single hit across four innings, after a disappointing sixth‑inning lead loss in the previous winners’‑bracket meeting. Summerlin South built its advantage early, scoring two runs in the second inning when Kelsey Miranda delivered an RBI double. Isabella Vu added another run with a single in the third, and Lingenfelter contributed an RBI single in the fourth. Manager Aaron Dalzell reflected on Lingenfelter’s resolve, stating, “We preach that erstwhile a game’s over, you’ve got to flush it,” manager Aaron Dalzell said of Lingenfelter’s semifinal setback. “Raelyn wanted the shot again, and we felt bully astir it. Ten pitches in, I knew she was dialed.” Nevada extended its lead to 5‑0 with a run in the fifth inning before Southern California responded with two walks off reliever Alexis Cappetta. Reliever Zoe Lewis entered the game, escaped the jam and allowed only one baserunner for the remainder of the contest. Offensively, Miranda finished 3‑for‑3 with two doubles and an RBI, pacing a Nevada attack that outhit its opponent 10‑1 while capitalizing on four Southern California errors. Lingenfelter, Moana Quinn and Brooklyn Dalzell each recorded two hits. A triumph on Thursday at 2:15 p.m. against Northern California (3‑0) would claim the West Region title and send the winner to next week’s World Series. Northern California had previously edged Summerlin South 4‑1 in Tuesday’s opening game, rallying in the final inning. Dalzell emphasized the team’s outlook, saying, “We’re just going to go out and play and have fun,” Dalzell said. “We want the girls to go out and enjoy the moment.”