Yuba City Sweeps River Valley in Thriller
May 01, 2024 11:55AM ● By Steven Bryla
YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - The Yuba City girls softball team won a playoff-atmospheric game as they beat the River Valley Lady Falcons 2-1 in 11 innings on Thursday, April 25.
The 11-inning thriller had so many different twists between being a pitchers duel, defensive plays that should end up on SportsCenter top 10 highlights and the pride of bragging rights for an entire season until these two meet next season.
This was the best overall softball game in the area this season, hands down, and the gut-wrenching energy both sides displayed proved why it was.
The pitchers duel between Yuba City junior Tori Hernandez and River Valley junior Payton Smith was electric as both pitchers had a seven-inning shutout and surrendered four hits.
Smith and Herndandez combined for 83 plate appearances throughout the game and only two walks by Hernandez were issued; both pitchers threw above 68% strikes in the game.
Smith joked postgame that both dugouts probably lost their voices from screaming a lot throughout the game.
Alexis Otero said that the team energy was high and they need to continue the high energy for the rest of the season with one another.
River Valley sophomore infielder Alexis Otero (3) fields and throws a ball from third base on Thursday, April 25, in the Lady Falcons’ 2-1 defeat to Yuba City. Photo by Steven Bryla
Lady Falcons Head Coach Taylor Pack told the Dispatch that she was happy with the way her team set a standard for themselves through the long battle.
“We’ve had wins before, but 11 innings is a lot different than just winning in seven,” Pack said.
Lady Honkers Head Coach Patty Gates was at a loss of words of how proud and excited she was for her girls to finish through the fight and pull out the victory for Yuba City.
Defensively, web gem highlights could have reels for the next few weeks after the stops that were made in this game, including a diving catch in left field by Yuba City junior outfielder Riley Mireles and a few different highlights from River Valley senior outfielder Amyah Lawrence.
Both teams had to test their mental focus with the ability to adapt to adversity as humans are prone to mistakes. Yuba City committed four errors defensively, but the Lady Falcons weren’t able to cash it in.
Hernandez struck out her first three at-bats of the game, and in the top of the eighth inning she hit a runs-batted-in single with two outs to score senior infielder Drew McDonald.
McDonald and Hernandez said to the Dispatch that the consistent chatter of their team picking up one another has gotten them through tough situations knowing they are behind one another.
McDonald emphasized the importance of the defense throughout the game: just make the right play and stay in the right state of mind.
River Valley answered in the bottom of the eighth inning as sophomore infielder Alexis Otero hit a one-out triple and was brought into score on the next hitter, as shortstop Kaitlyn Garcia hit a ground ball to the right side of the field.
After Smith and Hernandez shut down the hitting lineups in the ninth and 10th innings, the 11th inning had everyone on the edge of their seats.
Hernandez led the 11th inning with a slicing triple down the right field line past Lawrence and Hernandez, and there was a big roar of excitement after she was safe.
Lady Honkers junior outfielder Alexia Alvarez brought Hernandez in with a sac-fly RBI to the outfield for the lead.
In the bottom of the 11th, Smith reached on an error and made it to second after tagging up with one out.
Hernandez locked down the two final outs for the win. The win was big for Yuba City as it kept them with three losses in the Capital Valley Conference as the top three teams make it to the Sac-Joaquin Section playoffs.
The Lady Honkers were scheduled to host Wheatland this past Monday, and play at Bella Vista, yesterday, May 2.
For the Lady Falcons, their only game this week was scheduled to play at Roseville Tuesday, April 30. Pack told the Dispatch that for the rest of the season she wants to see the girls be the best version of themselves.
“Come out positive and fight through the very end and believe in one another,” Pack said.
River Valley junior pitcher Payton Smith (1) tosses a pitch in the Lady Falcons’ 2-1 loss against Yuba City on Thursday, April 25. Photo by Steven Bryla
