Erik Boal
Dan Berry was his usual calm self during Friday's post-game
interview, but that didn't mean there weren't a number of anxious
moments for the veteran coach and his Crescenta Valley High softball
players against Paso Robles.
Despite traveling almost 200 miles to get to La Crescenta for
their CIF Southern Section Division II playoff opener, the Bearcats
built a three-run lead midway through the third inning, and gave the
Falcon faithful some cause to worry about a second straight
first-round postseason exit.
But that was before CV answered back with one of its biggest
innings of the season.
The Falcons collected three doubles -- including a bases-clearing
shot off the left-field fence by Kirsten Whitt -- and scored six runs
to produce a 7-5 victory and advance to Tuesday's second round
against Whittier California (22-5) at a site to be determined.
"This team really doesn't give up," said Whitt, who recorded one
of CV's four doubles, including two by Amanda Peek and one by Kaycee
Crownover.
"We know how good we are and we knew we weren't playing up to our
potential. [So we just decided] to win this [in the bottom of the
third]."
Said Peek, who drove in a run as part of the big inning: "We hit
[Paso Robles pitcher Ceci Dominguez] the whole day, so even though we
were down by a couple runs, it didn't mean anything. We knew we were
still in it."
But even with a 7-4 lead, CV (22-3) wasn't able to relax, as Paso
Robles (13-14) put at least two runners on in the final three
innings.
However, thanks to clutch defensive plays by Heather Grossnickle
in left and Whitt at third, the Falcons were able to escape several
jams in support of Sarah Sherman (22-3).
"We played tough and they played tough, but this is the playoffs
and the heat is on," Berry said. "Sometimes you have to get some
breaks [to be successful] and we'll take every break we can get."
