Key hits power Big Valley Christian softball to second NorCal title game in three years
On Tuesday it was four runs in the fifth inning and on Thursday it was six. Both times, an offensive explosion helped the Big Valley Christian softball team win single elimination playoff games.
In each case, a home run from Kailey Rivera sparked the offense.
In Tuesday’s matchup against Oakland High, Rivera — the Lions’ home runs leader — hit a solo shot over the center field fence in the fourth inning to break a 0-0 tie. Big Valley came back in the fifth and scored four runs to secure a 5-0 win in its CIF Northern California Regional playoff opener.
Thursday against Leigh High of San Jose, Rivera struck again in a tie ballgame. She drove in the game’s first run with another solo home run to center field in the fourth inning. The Lions scored one more run in the inning then broke the game open in the bottom of the fifth, scoring six runs en route to a 10-2 win in the NorCal semifinals.
Big Valley Christian advances to the Northern California regional championship game Saturday. As the No. 1 seed in Division V, they host No. 3 Christopher High of Gilroy (17-10) at 4 p.m. The Lions play in their second regional title game in three seasons.
“They’ve been doing that all year, it’s crazy,” coach Eric Layman said. “They just break out of something and they have an inning and it’s just contagious. They just take off.”
Rivera wouldn’t call herself a veteran just yet. She’s just a sophomore. But after playing varsity her freshman season, she admits she has learned a lot, which she brought into this season.
“My first year was very nerve-racking,” she admitted. “It’s like, oh, I’m on varsity as a freshman. I would say there’s a calmness being here a second year in a row. Knowing the girls and the team chemistry helps me stay calm knowing they have my back.”
Rivera gave the Lions a 1-0 lead and Brynn MacWilliams singled home Francesca Ortega, who came on as a courtesy runner for catcher Emily Avila after she singled. The Longhorns answered in the top of the fifth, scoring twice to tie the game.
The offense came back up in the bottom of the fifth and picked up where it left off. Madyx Mitchell led off the inning with a walk and Morgan Merzon drove a home run to center field to break the tie. Ava Hernandez, Cecily Fontana, Rivera and Avila recorded four straight singles and the Lions added three more runs to make it a 7-2 game. MacWilliams drove in a run to extend the lead to 8-2 after five. The Lions added two more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to seal the win.
“It was amazing seeing them all take the energy and do their own thing,” Rivera said. “Hitting bombs in the gaps was amazing to see.”
The Lions tallied 11 hits led by Rivera, Merzon and Avila, each recording two apiece. Five other players recorded one hit each. Rivera, Merzon, Avila and MacWilliams each drove in two runs and Fontana added one RBI.
“It was just one after another,” Hernandez said.
In the circle, Hernandez allowed five hits and struck out 11 batters She will play in her second NorCal title game Saturday. The Azusa Pacific University-bound senior was just a sophomore when she led the Lions to section and NorCal titles in 2022. That year she finished sixth in the state in strikeouts.
“I knew this was gonna be one of the tougher games,” Hernandez said. “I was preparing for this game mentally and physically, I just got tired in the middle of it. I’m glad my team had my back. I didn’t have a doubt. I’m glad our bats came alive to give us some cushion.”
The Lions’ opponent Saturday finished second in the Santa Teresa league in the Central Coast Section. The Cougars are led by junior Melissa Lugo, who hits .542 with 16 RBI. As a team, they have 53 doubles and 14 triples on the season, according to MaxPreps. They lost to Aragon in the CCS Division IV championship but beat Lowell and Los Molinos to reach the NorCal title game.
“I know it’s going to be the toughest game of the season and I’m stoked,” Hernandez said. “This team is so hungry … and we’re just super excited to have this opportunity again and be able to support each other and represent our school. We’ve worked hard for this moment.”
