Alex Howard, Crescenta Valley-Foothill bound for Western Regional Tournament in Arizona

"It's a big game and a lot of the girls haven't been here before," Thayer said. "It's a big moment to come and play for Southern California. They shook it out a bit when Tiffany hit that home run and that was just a sign we were OK."

Jordan Lousararian gave CVFH another dominating performance in the circle, as she held Westchester to three hits and an unearned run through the first four innings before Alatraca relieved her in the fifth.

CVFH took its first lead of the game, 3-1, in the bottom of the fifth when Cailen Rodriguez (two for four) lined a two-run single to right field. Alatraca drew a leadoff walk to start the inning and was subbed out for pinch-runner Taylor Schaffer, who moved to second on a sacrifice bunt from Paige Baker.

"We had some real clutch play today," Thayer said. "There were big hits everywhere and from some unusual spots."

A two-out Westchester error kept the inning alive, as Howard hit a chopper to short that was bobbled and then thrown too high to put runners at first and third. Howard stole second on the very next pitch to set up Rodriguez' two-run hit.

Kahn cut Westchester's deficit to one, 3-2, in the sixth when she hit a line drive over the left fielder's head to score Chandler Dolan, who led off the inning with a single.

Claire Smith provided CVFH with a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the sixth when she bounced a single into center field to score Calley Ellingford, who reached on a fielder's choice and stole second.

"It feels great," Bartamian said. "It felt like it would never happen."