Saturday's softball doubleheader - the "Battle of the Vikings" - between West Valley and visiting Diablo Valley was more than simply a 6-5, 16-8 sweep for WVC. The two teams combined for 41 hits, 35 runs, 12 errors, nine double plays, eight stolen bases and four home runs in more than four hours of playing time. The capacity crowd at the WVC Softball Complex saw West Valley improve its record to 5-3 and Diablo Valley drop its first games of the year to fall to 5-2.
GAME ONE RECAP
West Valley pitcher Jessell Lewis opened game one be setting DVC down in order in the first two innings. Haley Walker gave WVC a 2-0 lead in the home half of the 2nd, sending a 3-1 pitch over the right field fence to drive in Malia Pula, who had doubled two batters earlier. DVC countered with three runs on four singles in the 3rd to take a 3-2 lead. Walker opened the WVC 4th with a base on balls and would find her way home after a Janelle McAfee sacrifice bunt, a wild pitch and a DVC error to tie it at 3-3.
DVC put a pair of unearned runs on the board in the top of the 5th. WVC second baseman Siobhan Taylor lost leadoff hitter Alexis Esparza's pop-up in the sun, followed by a walk and a hit batter. Elvia Alvarado then put DVC up 5-3 with a two-run single. The visitors from Pleasant Hill would not score again.
In the bottom of the 7th, Samantha Fletes reached on a Nikki Mason error with one out. After moving to third on a Malia King-Jones single, Fletes scored on a Pula double to left-center to send it to extra innings.
West Valley recorded its fourth double-play of the game to end the top of the eighth. Maddy Lucey roped the first pitch of the West Valley 8th to the right-field fence for a triple. Alexandra Pussich then lifted a fly ball to right, scoring the speedy Lucey on the sacrifice to end the game.
Pula finished with a pair of doubles and two RBI in three at-bats. Lewis went the distance, scattering seven hits and striking out four, for the win in the circle. Sita Manoa took her first loss of the season after opening with five straight wins, giving up seven hits, striking out two and handing out nine walks.