Vintage scores early and often to roll past Mt. Eden in CIF North Coast Section playoff opener
By Kyle Foster
Follow on Twitter/X: @NapaKyle @NapaSportsNews
When playoff time comes, it’s important to set the tone early. It’s a must if you’re the higher seed especially in the opener.
On Wednesday afternoon, this is what the No. 2 seed Vintage softball team did as the cruised past No. 15 MT. Eden-Hayward in the first round of the CIF North Coast Section Division 1 playoffs.
The highlight came in the second when Vintage (17-5-1) put up a whopping 11 runs. Four of them came when Alvarez sent a grand slam over the left-center field wall to bring in Desiree Griffith, Taylor Lauritsen, and Audrey Manley who had all singled to load the bases.
“I was just trying to go up and be aggressive,” Alvarez said of her at-bat where she hit the grand slam. “They walked me the first at bat so I was just like, I was like I already know what this pitcher is like and like already know what she’s gonna throw to me most likely.’ So I was just trying to be most aggressive as possible.”
This was the sophomores second grand slam of the year and her fifth homer of the campaign as well. She has done all of this after being elevated to the third spot in the order a few weeks ago.
The Crushers began the rally when Brianna Allen singled and stole second and got to third on a single by Devin Viruet before scoring on a single by Angie Rubalcava. Viruet scored on Lauritsen’s single, and Rubalcava scored on Manley’s single for the first three runs.
After the homer, the rally started again when Allen walked and got to second on a Devin Viruet fielders choice before scoring on a Rubalcava single. Viruet scored when Dessiana Garcia singled to also bring in Rubalcava. Griffith walked and later scored on a Lauritsen single to end the inning where 15 batters came to the plate.
“The offense really did erupt,” Vintage head coach Megan Lopez explained of the massive second inning. “That’s a great way to say it. I think the girls in the front half of the lineup do a really great job of communicating to the rest of the lineup what they saw first inning and then they were able to make adjustments in the second inning pretty quickly. We talk about hits are contagious and bats are on fire and they absolutely showed that today.”
The offensive onslaught continued when Vintage added five more to the total in the third. It all began when Alvarez walked and got to third on a double to left-center by Abygail Sims, and scored when Devin Viruet reached on a fielder’s choice. Then, a triple to right-center by Rubalcava brought in Viruet. Griffith was hit by a pitch and scored on a Garcia triple to left-center. A Lauritsen single brought in Garcia.
They ended it by scoring three more in fourth. When Alvarez and Sims singled, they both scored on a double to right-center by Rubalcava. A Ryan Chaddock double just inside the left field line brought in Rubalcava.
In the game, Alvarez was 2-for-2 with a grand slam, 2 walks, 3 runs scored, and 4 RBIs.
“She’s just incredibly consistent,” Lopez said of Alvarez’s bat and why she moved up in the lineup. “She sees the ball coming at her and she’s very aware of what she’s able to do and she ends up producing for us. She’s clutch offensively.”
Others adding to the huge offensive day were Rubalcava (4-for-4 triple, double, 4 runs, 5 RBIs), Sims (2-for-2 triple, stolen base, 2 runs), Chaddock (1-for-1 double, RBI), Griffith (1-for-1 walk, 3 runs), Lauritsen (3-for-4 triple, run, 3 RBIs), Garcia (2-for-3 double, run, 4 RBIs), Devin Viruet (1-for-4 stolen base, RBI, 2 runs), Manley (1-for-4 run, RBI), and Malina Viruet (1-for-4).
Mt. Eden (13-8) scored their lone run in the third inning when Jasmine Cruz reached on a bunt single and got to second when there was a play at third. She then scored after getting to third on a groundout, which was followed by a single by Andrea Toledo.
Getting the win in the game in the circle was Malina Viruet. The freshman worked the first three frames where she struck out 3 and walked 3. She also allowed 2 hits and threw 47 pitches on the way to her third win of the season.
Working the final two inning was Noelle Rofkahr. She struck out three and gave up three hits all while throwing 34 pitches.
Vintage will now meet No. 7 seed Liberty-Brentwood in the quarterfinals on Friday at 5 pm after the Lions beat No. 10 Dublin 9-0 on Tuesday. You can view the updated bracket here.
This is also the first playoff win since 2022 after the Crushers were bounced from the first round last season.
