Napa puts on offensive show in win over Casa Grande to clinch league title
By Kyle Foster
Twitter: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
It’s been a good four years for the Napa High softball team.
The thing is, it just got better because they brought home the schools first league title for softball since 2012. Napa claimed it outright after beating Casa Grande 8-2 and Vintage losing to Petaluma 3-2.
“It would mean a lot, especially for our seniors,” Napa coach Ron Walston said. “They work hard, and that’s one thing that we’ve always talked about that they wanted a league championship.”
“It’s really exciting because we never actually won league,” Napa senior second baseman Lindsey Lehman explained. “Even when we won sections we didn’t win league, so I’m real excited that we’re going to win league this year.”
The Grizzlies (14-7 overall, 9-3 Vine Valley Athletic League) got off to a hot start in the bottom of the first when they were able to push across a run. After doubling Makenna Walls came home on a Caity Newburn single.
Then, in the bottom of the third Napa put up a crooked number. Jordan Blackmon and Grace Guzman began the inning with a pair of singles and then scored on a Walls single. Later Kimmie Walston singled and Walls went to third to set up Lehman who roped a three-run homer that was her second of the season to center field to give Napa a 6-0 lead.
“It felt really good, and I knew right off the bat that it was going out,” Lehman said of her three-run shot. “Just a very solid hit, it felt really good.”
“That home run for Lindsey was huge,” Walston explained. “You know being injured part of the season and not only was it a good time, but it was a good thing for her.”
Napa then scored twice more in the bottom of the fourth. Guzman reached on a fielder’s choice and then scored on a Walls single. After reaching on a infield single Haylee Giarritta scored on a Kimmie Walston single.
“They all hit very well,” Walston added.
Casa Grande (9-13, 3-9 VVAL) scored their only two runs of the game in the fifth and sixth innings.
Walston also looked real good in the circle on the day. She threw a complete game in 94 pitches and struck out three, while walking only one. She also allowed two runs to score, one of which was earned.
“She did awesome,” Lehman said of Walston’s start. “She worked hard this year and has gotten so much better over the course of the season, and I think this is one of the best games she’s pitched.”
“She did really well,” the coach said of his daughter. “One inning I don’t think she was tired she just left a couple over the plate, but she got right out of it and she did great today.”
Before the game Napa also honored it’s six seniors of Drew Somogyi, Walls, Jenna Baker, Giarritta, Walston, and Lehman.
Both teams will find out their playoff fates on Saturday when the CIF North Coast Section reveals the brackets. The link to view all the brackets when they become available can be viewed here.
