Otay Ranch wins Hilltop softball tourney title

The Otay Ranch Mustangs swept all three playoff games last Saturday in the finals of the annual Hilltop tournament to emerge as its 2013 champion.

The Mustangs downed Brawley, 11-6, in the quarterfinals, topped El Capitan, 7-4, in the semifinals and out-slugged Santana, 11-5, in the championship game.

Tourney MVP Sashel Palacios swung the big bat with three hits and four RBI in the title game while freshman teammate Kalaiaelisa Toomalatau had three hits and three RBI. Jonee Rutlege drove in two runs while Josie Bachtell earned the complete game victory in the pitching circle.

Nikki Fernandez and Carlee Wood each had two RBI in the semifinal win while Bachtell, who also picked up the win in the semifinal, drove in three runs in the quarterfinal win.

Bachtell and Wood joined Palacios on the all-tournament team.