The 2015 edition of the Michelle Carew Classic wrapped up Saturday night at Peralta Park in Anaheim Hills, Calif. and the No. 1 rated high school team in the nation in our FAB 50 rankings, Mission Viejo, wrapped up yet another major tournament championship but it didn’t come without some tense moments.

Earlier in the afternoon, the Diablos trailed Yucaipa 2-1 going into the bottom of the sixth of the semifinals, but RBI singles by seniors Taylor McQuillin (Arizona) and Allison Harvey (Princeton), put Mission Viejo on top for good. McQuillin would give up four hits, but strike out 13 in the win.

Yucaipa, you may remember, is led by senior pitcher Brooke Bollinger, who is very underrated, and gave Mission Viejo all it could handle in the Tournament of Champions in Arizona on March 14 before the Orange County team won 1-0.

Saturday night’s opponent was Poway led by outstanding senior pitcher Kourtney Shaw (Cal) and freshman star catcher Colleen Sullivan (UCLA), who was recently announced as the No. 25 rated player in the 2018 Hot 100. After this week’s performance at the Carew Classic, that ranking should be much higher.

The championship game once again was Taylor McQuillin’s to lose and she didn’t disappoint.

All-American outfielder Alyssa Palomino (Arizona) hit Shaw’s first pitch of the game into right field for a single and would begin a remarkable run where Mission Viejo would get the lead-off batter on base every inning of the game.

Infielder Kyra Snyder (Louisville commit) would eventually hit over a flair over third that would plate Palomino and that run stood until the bottom of the seventh when Poway would tie the game on a two-strike double to center by Sullivan.

Suddenly, going into the seventh it was tied 1-1 and the momentum—and crowd—was going Poway’s way. But, as Mission Viejo tends to do when pushed, it roared back with four runs in the top of the seventh to seal the win.

Infielder Bailey Roberson was hit by a pitch and then went to third on a double by Palomino, her third hit of the night (she led off two innings with a single and another time walked to lead off an inning).

Three straight RBI hits—a single by Camryn Ybarra (Oregon State) a double by Kayleen Shafer (Oregon State) and another single by Snyder—put the game out of reach.

McQuillin gave up six hits but recorded 14 strikeouts—two in every inning. The only time she really seemed in trouble was in the first inning when she loaded the bases with one out but snuffed any potential Poway rally with a strikeout and a fly out.

“My curve was really working tonight,” Taylor said after the championship win. “My riseball was good too to left-hand hitters and everyone seemed to be chasing the outside pitch.”

The Arizona-signee and last year’s Gatorade National Player of the Year was well aware the team was getting on base, but not able to score.

“We’re having problems hitting, frankly,” she explained. “We had two close games back-to-back today, but our team motto is ‘War’ so we know that when our backs are against the wall, we’re going to come out swinging and working harder than ever.”

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Here are the players from this week who were recognized for their outstanding individual play…

2015 Michelle Carew Classic – All Tournament Team

• Mission Viejo              Taylor McQuillin (Most Valuable Pitcher)
• Mission Viejo              Alyssa Palomino (Most Valuable Player)
• Mission Viejo              Allison Harvey
• Mission Viejo              Terra McGowan
• Mission Viejo              Kayleen Shafer
• Poway                         Colleen Sullivan
• Poway                         Malian MartiTnez
• Poway                         Kourtney Shaw
• Yucaipa                      Brooke Bolinger
• Yucaipa                      Jordan Green
• Yucaipa                      Kelly Martinez
• Canyon                       Hailey Hilburn
• Canyon                       Brianna Betschel
• Amador Valley           Courtney Dinelli
• Amador Valley           Danielle Williams
• Valencia                     Nicole Joseph
• Vista Murrieta            Sara Lillie
• Cypress                      Ashley Ross
• Pacifica                       Dominique Espinoza
• Great Oak                   Autumn Storms
• Sheldon                      Sarah Brown
• Norco                          Abby Lockman
• WC   Etiwanda           Briana Wheeler
• WC   Saugus               Mariah Lopez
• WC   Murrieta Valley  Amber Bishop
• WC Lakewood           Kylie Lundgren
• WC Aliso Niguel        Haeley Tran