LAKE BALBOA – It was a matter of survival Friday in the CIF L.A. City Section Division IV softball championship game between fifth-seeded Canoga Park and second-seeded Maywood CES.
In a game that lasted three hours and five minutes and produced 13 errors, 20 walks, eight hit batters and 38 runs, Canoga Park outlasted Maywood CES 21-17 to take home the championship at Birmingham High School.
“It was intense. It was an amazing experience, especially playing for four years, to finally get the championship is incredible,” said Canoga Park senior Alyssa David, who went 4 for 4 with four RBIs and three runs. “I’m a very vocal leader on the field, and I saw how hard our team worked. Even though we were nervous at times today, I just kept telling my teammates, ‘Do your job, keep fighting.’ ”
Canoga Park (6-13), which entered the playoffs with only two wins, put together a Cinderella-type run to get to the championship game.
The Hunters fell behind 2-0 after one inning, but rallied for seven runs in the top of the second inning. David drove in two runs with a single to give the Hunters a 4-2 advantage. David later scored on a singled by Aury Vargas to make it 7-2 as the Hunters’ lineup batted around, one of two times they did so in the game.
With Canoga Park’s lead reduced to one run in the top of the fourth, the Hunters again batted around and put up their second seven-run inning of the game to take a 14-6 lead. The inning featured four walks, two hit batters, three errors and three hits.
With Canoga Park leading 18-12 going to the bottom of the sixth, it was Maywood CES’ turn to bat around as the Wolfpack (13-9) scored five times in the inning, with the big blow coming on Anahy Barajas’ three-run, inside-the-park homer.
With the score 18-17 and the tying run on third base and two outs in the sixith, Canoga Park junior pitcher Mallory Moxley came up with a big out when she needed it. Luisa Alvarez grounded out to end the threat.
“It feels really good to be a CIF champion. I can’t believe we did it,” said Moxley. “This was a great experience and I love playing with this team and helping them win the championship.”
