WEST VALLEY BLANKS LONG BEACH FOR TITLE

-- The Vikings capture their first state crown since 1990, ending a five-year run by South schools.

May 12 (Clovis, CA) -- The game plan was simple.

Capitalize on opportunities and play to your team's own strengths.

West Valley Coach Les Hearn will admit it's nothing fancy, but it sure does work.

In a state final battle of No. 1 seeds from Northern and Southern California -- and two schools with a Viking mascot -- West Valley (from Saratoga) came away with a 3-0 win over defending-champion Long Beach, Sunday afternoon at Buchanan Softball Complex in Clovis.

West Valley's Christina Yorkey tossed a four-hitter, out-dueling three Long Beach pitchers. And Hearn's version of fast-break offense was running on all cylinders.

West Valley, in the process, notched win No. 52 on the season -- the most in California.

"The bottom line is that we executed well," Hearn said. "Our team took advantage of Long Beach's mistakes."

West Valley CF Corinne Dobson got things started with a lead-off double in the top of the third inning. Two outs later, SS Sammy Quintero singled her home for a 1-0 West Valley lead.

Long Beach starter Arlene Garcia (17-4) kept her team close, leaving after four innings (5 H, K, BB). She gave way to sophomore Marie Caballero, the team's ace pitcher.

But Caballero, like so many other pitchers, would fall victim to West Valley's speed demons.

West Valley plated two runs in the top of the fifth, without a single ball leaving the infield dirt.

West Valley RF Michelle Gereaux, the club's No. 9 batter, started the fifth with a walk. A sacrifice bunt by 2B Vicky Galindo was scooped up by Long Beach 3B Elida Gil De Montes, but her throw to second base was too late.

Another bunt by Quintero moved runners over to second and third.

Caballero's ball four to C Elyssa Sigala scooted to the backstop and Gereaux dashed home safely.

Then, in prime Hearn fashion, clean-up hitter 3B Michelle Metcalf laid down a squeeze bunt with an 0-2 count. Long Beach 1B Monnaye Bernal only had one play, a throw to first, while Galindo coasted home.

West Valley's 3-0 lead appeared to be enough for a pitching staff that allowed just one run all weekend.

Long Beach had its best chance for a rally cut short in the bottom of the sixth.

Caballero's third intentional walk of the game began the threat.

Bernal followed suit with a single to left.

After two pinch-runner substitutions, Yorkey forced Garcia to pop out to second; the lead runner was thrown out attempting to steal third; and a groundout by Summer Reynoso ended any hopes of a Long Beach comeback.

"We were so focused on this tournament," said Hearn, voted Coach of the Year by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association.

"We have such great chemistry on this club. And we knew that we weren't going to lose. Someone was going to have to beat us."

Yorkey allowed a two-out walk in the seventh, but a pop fly to Gereaux in right field started the celebration.

Notes: West Valley RHP Jessica Busick (3-0, 25 IP, 8 H, R, 15 K, 8 BB) was voted the tournament's Most Valuable Pitcher ... Sammy Quintero won Most Valuable Player honors after her two-hit (RBI) performance in the title game; she also batted .429 (6-14) with four runs in the tourney ... Michelle Metcalf was awarded Best Hitter (.467, 7-15, 6 RBI) ... Long Beach SS Monique Palacios earned the championships' Golden Glove award ... the State Final 8 moves to Riverside Community College next season.

- compiled by Eric Mendoza, Fullerton College SID