Vintage overcomes three-run deficit to beat American Canyon, move to first place in VVAL
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
Well that’s a way to bounce back.
Following Monday’s loss the Vintage softball team bounced back to beat American Canyon, 4-3, by way of a walk off.
“It’s huge that we can come off of a loss and do this,” Vintage junior right fielder Mo Groves said.
“Honestly, we actually started kind of slow,” Vintage coach Robert Poppe explained. “I was a little disappointed in our effort at the beginning. I thought we would’ve been more mentally focused. But it took us a few innings, and it was nice to see them get it turned around.”
The Wolves (5-3 overall, 3-2 Vine Valley Athletic League) scored the game’s first two runs in the top of the third thanks to an error.
American Canyon pushed across another run in the sixth, which was again aided by an error.
Then, in the bottom of sixth the Crushers (8-1, 4-1 VVAL) came to life. Taylor Brandt and Sierra Crocker both singled to set the table for Groves who roped her third homer of the season over the left field fence to tie the game.
Mo Groves hit a 3-run bomb to tie it up in the 6th… 🥎@VHS_Crushers pic.twitter.com/zzT9B6bUjV
— VC Athletics (@VHSATHLETICS) April 10, 2019
“I was just going up there looking to get a base hit,” Groves said of her mind set going into the at bat.
What was even more impressive was that the homer came in a two-strike count.
“I was just trying to stay up there looking for a good pitch,” Groves added. “I’ve been struggling with the rise ball, so I was trying to lay off of those.”
Bottom of the 7th walk off W for the Crushers, thanks to Sierra Crocker! VC wins 4-3!
❤️💛🥎 @VHS_Crushers pic.twitter.com/mX7G7goIOA— VC Athletics (@VHSATHLETICS) April 10, 2019
Vintage walked it off in the bottom of the seventh when Crocker had a single go over the left fielder’s head to plate Jordan Allen who singled to lead off the inning.
“Well, on that one there we actually didn’t make any adjustments to the pitcher until probably the sixth inning,” Poppe pointed out. “We’ve been talking to the girls all game, but it’s hard when they’re in there in the box with all that pressure on them. But by the sixth inning they finally calmed down, started waiting for better pitches to swing at, and then that’s what happens.”
“Once we started hitting she had to change her spots because she was really just throwing rise balls and inside screwballs,” Groves said. “So, she started throwing outside and had to change it up on us, and I think that’s what (led) to us really attacking and getting some hits.”
Throughout the game American Canyon had plenty of chances to score, but the efforts of Vintage starter Raimy Gamsby and reliever Shelby Morse were key in keeping the Crushers in the game.
Gamsby ended up going four innings, while striking out eight in 64 pitches. She also gave up two runs, but only one was earned.
Morse got the win after going three innings, striking out four, and walking one in 51 pitches.
The win also moves Vintage to first place in the VVAL.
Vintage will be back on the field on Thursday when they visit Petaluma at 4 p.m., while American Canyon will visit Sonoma Valley tomorrow at 4 pm.
