‘This season was amazing.’ Stone Ridge Christian proud after falling short in title game
The Stone Ridge Christian High softball team was one out away from bringing home their second section blue banner.
However, Big Valley Christian rallied with three consecutive hits, plating three runs in to the top of the seventh inning as the Lions defeated the Knights 5-3 in the Sac-Joaquin Section Division VII championship on Saturday afternoon at the San Joaquin Delta College Softball Complex in Stockton.
It was the first section championship for the Big Valley Christian softball program.
“Coming in we knew it was going to be a close game,” said Stone Ridge Christian coach Cathy Cole. “You never want to lose but I’m so proud of our girls.”
The loss snapped a 19-game winning steak for the Knights (21-2).
Stone Ridge Christian rallied back from a 2-0 deficit with a three-run rally in the third inning. All three runs came with two outs.
Knights star Caitlyn Cole singled with two outs, stole second and came around to score on an infield single by her younger sister Cali Cole with the help of an errant throw.
Aylssa Villa then followed with a double to score Cali Cole to tie the game at 2-2. Carissa Hoekstra then singled to score Villa to give the Knights a 3-2 lead.
“I’m so proud of our team because we have come so far together,” Villa said. “We’re a lot closer for sure. The loss is just part of the game. One team is going to win and one team is going to lose. Even though we came up a little short today I feel like we’re all winners.”
Cali Cole pitched out a big bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth inning.
The Lions got three hits to load the bases. However, Cali Cole got a ground ball to short stop that Villa fielded and fired home for the first out. Big Valley Christian pinch-hitter Macie Stevens then hit a soft, sinking line drive that Villa caught and then tossed to third base to double off the runner to get out of the inning.
“She hit it right to me,” Villa said. “I got nervous because I thought I might get a short hop so I was ready to fire home. Then the ball wasn’t sinking so I caught it. Then I saw the runner was off the base. I was thinking, ‘Why isn’t she going back?’ I didn’t want to fire the ball at Mackenzia (Silva) at third so I just tossed it to her.”
The Lions (20-6) were down to their final out with two outs and a runner on first base in the top of the seventh inning.
Emily Avila singled to keep the rally alive and put runners and first and second. Then Trinity Beers singled to left to score the tying run from second.
Before the Knights could regroup, Breanna Rice crushed a double to the gap in left-center field to plate two runs to give the Lions a 5-3 lead.
Big Valley Christian ace Ava Hernandez then struck out the side in the bottom of the seventh inning to set off the Lions’ celebration. Hernandez struck out eight hitters in the game and went the distance for the victory.
“Softball is a game of chance,” Villa said. “It’s a game of inches. The ball could have gone a little further or another ball could have gone not as far, but we had so much fun. This ride we went on together this season was amazing.”
This story was originally published May 21, 2022 at 5:20 PM.
