Coming into last week, the Coronado Islanders softball team had just four remaining games on their regular season schedule. With a record of 8-12, but a 3-1 record in league play, it is vital for the Islanders to grab as many wins as they can down the stretch.

While it wasn’t the undefeated week the Islanders had hoped for, they managed a split. They fell to Morse 12-7 while grabbing a 5-4 win against Valhalla.

Despite the final box score showing a five-run Islanders loss to the Morse Tigers, the Islanders controlled the game for most of the day.

At the dish, it was yet another big day for Samantha Aldworth. The sophomore shortstop put together a 3-for-5 afternoon that featured a pair of doubles and an RBI. Akenna Thornton also left her mark on the game offensively, going 1-for-4 with a key two-run single. In total, the Islanders would collect 11 hits as a team on the afternoon.

Where things went awry for the Islanders was at the bottom of the sixth inning. Going into the sixth, Coronado held a somewhat comfortable 6-3 lead. However, Morse would rally for a massive nine-run bottom of the sixth inning, pushing them ahead 12-6. Errors would play a large factor in the big inning and all afternoon.

Of the 12 runs Morse scored, only four would be recorded as earned. The Islanders, who are usually stout defensively, committed four errors in the loss.

“Morse is always a tough game; they defend their home field really well,” said Islanders Manager Thomas Dull. “In a league that is as balanced as ours is, you can’t take a half inning off. We didn’t play our best defense in the sixth inning. Credit to Morse, they came back in that game and took it from us.”

Following the 12-7 loss, Coronado did well to come back on Monday and respond with a win. Getting the better of Valhalla by a final score of 5-4. Islanders manager Thomas Dull would hand the ball to senior Ali Pecus.

The left-hander responded by tossing a complete game, working seven innings, allowing four runs, on nine hits, walking five, and punching out seven. While her command wasn’t perfect, Pecus was able to get punch-outs when needed, utilizing her drop-ball and fastball to get a bevy of whiffs.

“I’ve said it all year, but Ali just keeps us in games every time she is on the mound. We just have to go produce a run,” said Dull.

Meanwhile, offensively, senior captain Cali Smith would deliver a big day at the dish, going 3-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in. Smith would not be the only Islander to record a three-hit day, though, as Jersey Cunningham’s excellent freshman campaign continued, as she went 3-for-4 with a double, triple, RBI, and two runs scored.

In 20 games played and 53 plate appearances, Cunningham owns a 1.480 OPS, .512 Slug%, and .600 wOBA (weighted on-base average).

“Jersey was fantastic in the win, but we were really led by our senior Cali Smith,” Dull said. “She had a great approach. She wanted to win that game really badly, and it showed in her performance.”

The Islander softball program has just two games left on their 2025 regular season schedule. The first is on May 14th at home against Crawford High. Then on May 16th, they’ll travel to Mission Bay High School for another key league showdown against the Mission Bay Buccaneers.

According to MaxPreps, the Islanders are ranked as the No.15 team in CIF DIII. Based on those rankings, Coronado would find itself on the outside looking in come the playoffs. Winning both these games against Crawford and Mission Bay will be key in helping them possibly secure a playoff berth.

“For us, playoffs start this week,” commented Dull. “I think the girls stepped up yesterday against Valhalla. We’re ready to go.”