Napa battles back from early deficit to beat Vintage, take first Big Game
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Big Game always creates some exciting and memorable moments.
That was no different on Monday when the Napa High softball team beat rival Vintage 8-7 in a thriller.
“Really good,” Napa senior shortstop Haylee Giarritta said of winning the first Big Game. “I’m glad we could come out on top. We’ve been struggling a little bit, and I feel like we played really well today, just pulled through, and had a nice win.”
“A one-run game can go either way,” Vintage coach Robert Poppe said. “It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”
“We had kind of a slow start, and of course Big Game it always feels good, but coming from behind twice it’s going to be big for these girls,” Napa coach Ron Walston said. “We had a slow start, but it’s starting to come around.”
The scoring started early on in the game when Napa (3-4 overall, 2-1 Vine Valley Athletic League) pushed a run across in the top of the first. After a single, Makena Walls scored on an error.
However, the real fireworks came in the bottom of the first. Shelby Morse reached on an error, Taylor Brandt singled, and Sierra Crocker was walked intentionally, which set the table for Mo Groves who roped a grand slam over the fence in left-center.
Mo Groves grand slam against Napa on Monday 🥎
@VHS_Crushers pic.twitter.com/3PPQBTtDV2— VC Athletics (@VHSATHLETICS) April 10, 2019
“Amazing,” Vintage junior right fielder Mo Groves explained of her grand slam. “Honestly, it’s always been my dream to hit a homerun in Big Game, so I was really excited when that happened. It felt unrealistic.”
In the top of the third the Grizzlies scored twice more. Grace Guzman reached on a bunt single and Abby Arata reached on error. Both came home on a Kimmie Walston single.
The Crushers (7-1, 3-1 VVAL) proceeded to add another run in the bottom of the third when Taylor Brandt reached by way of a fielder’s choice and then came in on a Groves single.
Napa took its first lead of the game in the fifth inning. Walls singled and later scored when Kimmie Walston reached on a error. Caity Newburn then singled and was run for by Drew Somogyi. Walston and Somogyi both scored on Alana Valentine’s single.
Vintage pushed two more runs across in the bottom of the fifth inning. After a leadoff triple Jordan Allen scored on Morse’s sacrifice fly. Later Brandt doubled before coming home on a sacrifice fly by Groves.
Napa pushed across the game’s final run in the top of the seventh. After Jenna Baker reached on a single she was run for by Somogyi. Somogyi moved to third when Guzman doubled. Somogyi then came home on a wild pitch.
Baker got the win for Napa. Over a complete game she struck out two and walked two, all while throwing 101 pitches. She gave up all seven of the runs, six of which were earned.
“When it comes down to crunch time most of the time she’ll get it done,” Walston said of his senior pitcher. “Especially in a Big Game or a game that means something, she buckles down and does her job.”
Morse ended up getting a no decision. Over 4 and ⅔ innings of work she walked four and struck out three. She ended up giving up six runs, all unearned. She also threw 90 pitches.
Raimy Gamsby took the loss. She went 2 and ⅓ innings, struck out three, and walked two, all while throwing 48 pitches. She gave up two runs, but only one of them was earned.
Both teams will be back in action tomorrow. Napa will visit Sonoma Valley, while Vintage will host American Canyon. Both games will start at 4 p.m.
