On heels of scoring bulk of runs with two-out rallies, Vintage beats Petaluma to win second VVAL title in last three seasons
By Kyle Foster
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One of the hardest things to do is put up runs with two outs. It doesn’t happen all that often when a team is able to muster hits with one out left in the inning.
On Friday afternoon at the Crusher softball field, this is what host Vintage did as they beat Petaluma, 9-1, in the final game of the Vine Valley Athletic League season.
The Crushers (15-4-1 overall, 11-1 VVAL) began the game by scoring five times in the third to take control of the game. It all started when Taylor Lauritsen singled and stole second before getting to third when Audrey Manley reached on an error. After Manley swiped second base, she and Lauritsen came home when Malina Viruet doubled to left-center. That was followed by a walk to Devin Viruet. A double to left field by Angie Rubalcava then brought in both Viruets. A single by Brianna Allen brought in Rubalcava.
In the fourth, Vintage added a pair of runs as well. It began when Mia Griffith reached on an infield single and got to second on a sacrifice bunt by Dessiana Garcia before getting to third on another infield single by Lauritsen. Then, a double to left field by Malina Viruet brought in Griffith and Lauritsen.
All of the Crushers’ first seven runs were scored with two outs in the game as well. This is a product of working counts and seeing a lot of pitches.
“We scored five first with two outs and then capitalized a little bit more in the later innings to get two more with two outs and these girls have that don’t quit mentality,” Vintage head coach Megan Lopez said of the team’s great offense with two-outs in the game. “We really talk about bats on fire and hits are contagious and I think that they proved that here today.”
In the fifth, Vintage added two more runs to go up 9-0. The rally started when Allen singled and then came in on a double down the left-field line by Abygail Sims. Sims advanced on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout to shortstop by Mia Griffith.
Leading the Crusher batting attack in the game was Malina Viruet. In the game, she was 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles, one run scored, and 4 RBIs from the cleanup spot in the order.
“The first up I had two strikes on me. So I was trying to hit a line drive,” Viruet said of her day with the bat. “Just straight in the outfield just so I can move the runners. (In the) the second at-bat, I was just going up there with confidence and trying to hit as hard as I could.”
Others having good days were Allen (3-for-3 2 stolen bases, run, RBI), Sims (1-for-1 double, run, RBI), Lauritsen (3-for-4 stolen base, double, 2 runs), Garcia (1-for-2), and Rubalcava (1-for-4 double, run, 2 RBIs).
The Trojans (10-13, 5-7 VVAL) scored their lone run in the sixth. After Kaylee Caselli reached on a fielder’s choice, she scored when Lily Gemma roped a double to left field.
Leading Petaluma on offense in the game were Gemma (2-for-3 double, RBI), Caselli (1-for-2 run), Tatum Mullins (1-for-2), and Lily Pardini (1-for-3).
Getting the win in the game was Malina Viruet. The freshman worked a complete game where she struck out 9 and had no walks. She allowed one earned run on just 5 hits to get her second win of the season in the circle. She did all of this while throwing 95 pitches.
“I think I just started to gain more and more confidence throughout those innings,” Viruet said of her great outing where she went the whole game. “Seeing my rise work especially helped, knowing that like I had it. I could get these girls out.”
Her rise ball was very dominant as it led to a lot of swinging strikeouts. 8 of her 9 punchouts were swinging as well.
“Definitely my rise was there I would say,” Viruet explained. “It just kept spinning. I trusted it so much. I was just like ‘I got this pitch today.’”
With the win, Vintage secured their 2 league title in the last 3 seasons. It’s also the second one for Lopez in her short time leading the programs. One of the reasons why this one is so special is the fact that they had to battle through a plethora of injuries on the way to winning it. But each player who has had to step up has done so without issue to keep winning.
“Our depth has been short, but our ability has been abundant,” Lopez explained. “It’s really incredible to see these girls step into positions that they’ve maybe never played before, and have been successful in doing that. It really speaks to who their character is and their want and their drive.”
They also secured the No. 1 seed in next week’s VVAL tournament where they’ll host Petaluma on Wednesday at 4 pm. The other game will feature No. 2 Casa Grande-Petaluma against No. 3 American Canyon. The winners will meet on Friday at 4 pm. Before that, Vintage is scheduled to host Benicia on Saturday at 11 am. But this game will more than likely be a rainout as rain is forecasted for Saturday. Why is it raining in May?
On top of all of that, Devin Viruet, Mia Griffith, Garcia, Allen, and Lauritsen were all honored as part of Senior Day prior to the game.
This makes winning the league title even more special for the youngest Viruet.
“It means so much to me, because we just had one more year together and to be able to do that is so I don’t know,” Viruet explained of sharing a league title with her older sister, Devin. “It just means so much.”
This is also the second day in a row where Vintage won a league title. After their baseball team won 4-1 yesterday at Casa Grande, softball finished the job today to earn the first sweep on the diamond since 2015 when it last happened.
“It’s pretty special to share a title with baseball,” Lopez said. “I know that I can just run over and ask (Vintage baseball coach) Billy (Smith) for anything at any moment. He was just here last night mowing my lawn for me. The girls have a really close relationship with the baseball boys. They’ve even started a prank war this year and it is such a cool thing for having to have baseball and softball come together and building these programs up.”
