POWAY – From the time they entered Francis Parker, Lauren Tomey and three fellow juniors have known nothing but winning the Division IV softball title.

The Lancers did it again yesterday, topping Horizon 4-1 as Tomey delivered a two-run single to culminate a four-run rally in the fourth inning at Sportsplex USA.

“We're completely at another level (during the playoffs),” Tomey said. “Our intensity has been up from nowhere near where it was the entire season. We knew we had already won two years in a row, and we wanted to win it a third time.”

Junior Amye McIntyre pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts for top-seeded Parker (24-8). Sophomores Hannah Rapoport and Austin Sanders each had two hits and an RBI.

“It's all incredible,” McIntyre said, “truly amazing.”

The Lancers, whose lineup also includes juniors Kierstie Svatos and Devyn Lambell, outscored the opposition 46-4 in four playoff games.

“There are high expectations for our program, and there's pressure that goes with that,” said second-year Parker coach Jim Tomey, the father of Lauren and freshman teammate Maddie. “Our kids embrace that pressure. There is a lot of talent on our team and solid chemistry. I'm not surprised that we were back here.”

The Lancers faced a familiar foe in going against Coastal South League rival Horizon, which reached the title game for the first time since 2000. During the regular season, Parker split two meetings with the second-seeded Panthers (18-7).

In the fourth, the first batter walked for the Lancers and the second was hit by a pitch. One out later, Rapoport lined her second single of the game to break a scoreless tie.

“I was really nervous and anxious (to start the day),” said Rapoport. “But everyone was quite positive, and everyone knew we were going to win.”

With two out, Sanders knocked in another run with a bases-loaded single. Lauren Tomey followed with her blow to left-center field to account for two RBI for the second straight year in the final.