Cookson keys CV comeback

LA CRESCENTA — Having played catch-up all afternoon to visiting Hoover High on Wednesday, the Crescenta Valley softball team didn't think twice when the opportunity to take a lead finally presented itself in the bottom of the eighth inning.

It would call for some quick thinking, aggressive baserunning and was a bit of a gamble, but the Falcons' guile paid off in an 8-7 Pacific League victory on Hannah Cookson's daring attempt to score from second base on a bases-loaded infield single and subsequent errant throw to the plate.

Tiffany Briscoe's pop fly dropped just out of the reach of the retreating Hoover second baseman to score Allison Lacey, who had led off the frame with a single, for the tying run. There were still no outs in the frame, but when the throw home came in a bit wide right of the plate, Cookson made a break for home and slid in just ahead of catcher Lilly Rivera's tag in a bang-bang play at the plate.

"Hannah [scoring] from second base, that's a great play," Crescenta Valley Coach Mark Samford said. "I think because she had hit a couple of home runs, [Hoover] had only seen her really jog. They hadn't really seen her run, so I think she caught them a little bit by surprise. [Third-base] Coach [Ashleigh] Viers-Gordillo made a great aggressive call. It was a good way to win it."

Prior to her game-winning scramble, it was mostly Cookson's home-run trot that kept CV in the game. The center fielder and No. 3 hitter went deep twice, including a game-tying two-run shot in the sixth, to finish three for four with a walk with four runs batted in and three scored. Her sister, second baseman Hailey Cookson, also had a big game at the top of the lineup, going four for five with three doubles and three runs scored.

"Their sisters are killer," said Hoover Coach Rich Henning, whose team got out to a 3-0 lead after the first inning when shortstop Kaitlyn Williams belted a two-run homer and Rivera (three for four with two runs and a RBI) scored on an error after singling her way aboard. "It's like a nightmare for every coach facing those two girls."

Although Crescenta Valley cut Hoover's lead down to 3-2 on a run-scoring groundout by Hannah Cookson and a RBI double by Briscoe in the bottom of the first, Hoover remained in control of the game behind pitcher Bre Aguilera and just enough offense to keep the lead.