Vintage pushes a few runs across early, extends lead in seventh to beat Napa in pitchers duel and earn Big Game sweep
By Kyle Foster
Follow on Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
When games are tight, it helps to have a team that can execute in the big moments. After all, this is where games are won.
On Wednesday night at Kiwanis Park in downtown Napa, this is what Vintage did as they beat Napa, 4-0, in a pitchers duel to get the Big Game sweep.
Vintage (13-3-1 overall, 9-0 VVAL) scored their first run of this pitcher’s duel in the fourth when Viruet doubled to left field and was run for by Abigail Sims who advanced to third on a wild pitch before coming home on a Dessiana Garcia groundout.
The Crushers gained a 2-0 lead after pushing another run across in the fifth when Taylor Lauritsen yanked a double down the left-field line and scored on a single by Angie Rubalcava.
However, Vintage finally gained some separation in the seventh when they added a pair of runs. It all started when Noelle Rofkahr walked and moved to second on a Lauritsen walk and third when Rubalcava grounded into a fielder’s choice. An infield single by Devin Viruet brought in Rofkahr. Then, a double to center field by Malina Viruet brought in Rubalcava.
“I think that our approach at the plate like first inning is to always see pitches right and see pitches our first time through the lineup and see as many pitches as we can so that we can make our adjustments and some of the later innings or in the middle innings,” Vintage head coach Megan Lopez said of the two runs scored in the seventh to put the game away. “I think that we showed that tonight that we had seen enough pitches to make the adjustments and hit the ball hard.”
Leading the batting attack for Vintage was Malina Viruet. At the plate, she was 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles and an RBI. She was the one making the offense go from the cleanup spot in the lineup.
“I was looking for a fastball inside right there just before I had two strikes and then after that, I just made sure that whatever strike was going down the plate I would hit as hard as I can,” Viruet said of her approach at the plate in the game to lead her team in batting for the day.
Others hitting for Vintage in the game were Lauritsen (1-for-2 double, run, 2 walks), Rubalcava (1-for-3 run, RBI), Rofkahr (1-for-3 run), Desiree Griffith (1-for-3), and Devin Viruet (1-for-4 RBI).
Napa (7-10, 2-7 VVAL) had only a few chances to score in the game. In the first, Ella Johnson walked and got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Molly Travis. After Olivia Horn reached on an error, there were runners at first and second with one out. However, Jessye Wood and Bella Cook struck out to end the inning.
The Grizzlies’ only other opportunity came in the fourth when Wood and Reilly Parga singled to put runners at first and second with two outs. The inning ended when Riley Brodie grounded out to end the inning.
In the seventh, Parga singled and got to second on a wild pitch. She was stranded after the next two batters struck out to end the game.
In the game, Napa was 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position.
Despite this, it was one of the best-played games the Grizzlies had played all season long.
“I told them defensively, that’s the best I’ve seen them play all year,” Napa High head coach Ron Walston explained. “They’re hitting balls hard. Some didn’t get through. We had one runner get thrown out from right field and that’s going to happen, it was hit short. But overall, I think they played a great game, and I told them that.”
Getting the win in the circle for Vintage was Viruet. She delivered a marvelous effort where she struck out 7 and walked just 1. On the way to her second winning decision of the season, she threw 65 pitches and gave up just 2 hits.
“Malina in the four spot, she’s been clutch,” Lopez explained of the importance of Vuruet to the team. “She’s been doing what we’ve asked her to do. Not only offensively, but on the mound for being a freshman. She’s grown so much in our short season and shown us a lot of maturity and every time we’ve asked her to produce or to throw a while she she’s doing that for us.”
Viruet did this by having a really strong rise and drop ball in the game while also mixing in a curveball to keep batters guessing.
“I think my riseball and drop ball were definitely there,” Viruet explained of her pitches that were working in the circle. “But I think another thing that helped me out was my curveball today and just to get that first pitch strike on the outside and the security that.”
Taking the loss in the game was Brooklyn Miller. The junior righty had her best outing of the season where she threw a complete game. She allowed the four earned runs while walking 2 and striking out 1.
“I don’t think she’s pitched better since I’ve coached her,” Walston said of Miller’s great effort in the pitcher’s duel. “A lot of first-pitch strikes, she kept the ball down. We had a couple mistakes, gave up a run here and there. But that wasn’t on her. Like said, she got ahead, and they hit a couple of balls hard. But I think like I said, I don’t think she’s pitched better since I’ve known her.”
Rubalcava worked the final 3 innings on the way to a save, her first of the season. She struck out 5 and threw just 39 pitches.
With the win, Vintage has swept the season series after winning 10-0 on March 15th. This is their 4th straight Big Game win as well in the series. It’s their first at Kiwanis Park since April 5th, 2022.
“I think this is big,” Lopez said of the win over their rivals. “We played our home or game against Napa High at home. And this has become a certain rite of passage for softball players throughout our community for many years. So I’m happy that Napa High was able to pull it together and have it here for not only their team but our team and our seniors to send them out on a high note for Big Game.”
Both teams will continue league play in the coming days. Vintage will host Casa Grande-Petaluma on Friday at 4 pm in a key league game. As for Napa, they’ll have the bye Friday before hosting Sonoma Valley on Wednesday at 4 pm.
In other VVAL games on Wednesday, Casa Grande beat Justin-Siena 17-0 and American Canyon beat Petaluma 11-2.
Both schools honor fallen friends before the first pitch
Prior to the start of the game, both schools came together to honor friends lost in the previous few weeks.
Both teams lined up along the lines with Mia Griffith talking about her fallen friend, Sasha Mufich, who was slain in Napa two weeks ago. She was joined by Brianna Allen while delivering her message about her friend.
Meanwhile, Napa High honored Gracey Marek who passed away after a battle with a rare form of bone cancer. Riley Brodie who shared many moments with Merek between volleyball and softball spoke about her friend. Brodie was joined by Olivia Horn while she delivered her strong words.
There was also a moment of silence to honor Mufich and Marek. There is also a GoFundMe for both girls.
The Mufich GoFundMe and Marek GoFundMe are linked. Feel free to donate to help their causes.
After that was all over, Vintage started chanting “Rooter” with Napa chanting “Bob” to honor the late Rooter Bob Zanardi who passed away in February and was a big supporter of both schools and loved the games at Kiwanis Park.
