Sac-Joaquin Section softball: Vista del Lago goes deep to end Ponderosa's season, win streak

FOLSOM, Calif. — A long memory plus the long ball led the Vista del Lago (Folsom) softball team Thursday into the Sac-Joaquin Section Division III semifinals.

Two-run homers each from three unlikely sources — Olivia Manchester, Annabella Hess and winning pitcher Charlize Cai — plus a brilliant three-hitter from Cai and a 13-hit attack carried the fourth-seeded Eagles to a resounding 8-1 quarterfinal home win over red hot Ponderosa (Shingle Springs), the fifth seed.

Stellar defense — including a game-ending home-run saving catch by center fielder Allison Morrissey — plus three hits apiece from Cai, Manchester and Arizona-bound Tayler Biehl not only helped snap Ponderosa's school-record 17-game win streak, but it turned around a 2-1 loss to the Bruins the last time the two met in the postseason — the 2019 quarterfinals.

That was the first year head coach Julie Lazar assisted for the Vista del Lago staff and when Biehi and catcher Sammy Smith were freshmen contributors. Though it was four years ago and the season before the pandemic, the pain from that defeat was still fresh Lazar and Biehi said, and it might have contributed to the team's most balanced and complete win of the 2022 season.

The Eagles (22-4-1) travel to top seed Vanden (Fairfield), a 4-1 winner over Los Banos, in Tuesday's semifinal.

"Definitely that loss was a big motivator and it created a little rivalry with Ponderosa," Lazar said. "Our girls played great. We do have some power hitters but who hit them today weren't the usual suspects. It was a total team win."

Biehi, a long, fluid and impressive 6-foot senior, is always a suspect when it comes to dominating a game. She doubled twice, scored twice and added a sharp single.

The 2019 loss "was the biggest motivation for me today," Biehi said. "I did not want to lose to them again. Especially this being my last home game. I wanted us to go out strong. I didn't want us to go out on a bad note."

Instead, they jumped out early and put this one essentially away in the first following back-to-back doubles by left-handed hitters Biehi and Manchester to open the frame and a two-run homer to Cai, all to left field where the wind swirled all day.

Just like that it was 3-0.

The Eagles put it away in the fifth, keyed by a pinch-hit two-run homer by Hess and another two-run bomb from Manchester. The three home-run hitters had combined for only five of the team's 24 homers coming into the game.

"It was so exciting because everyone stepped up," Biehi said. Most of all Cai (9-2), a sophomore who had a no-hitter for five innings until a leadoff single in the sixth by Brooklynn Nordquist.

Ponderosa (22-4-1) broke up the shutout in the seventh on a double from Ana Niles, a single by Emilia Miehe and a sacrifice fly from Chase Mueller.

Samantha Ream, who had a team-high five homers on the year, looked like she blasted No. 6 but the wind knocked down her drive to left-center and Morrissey's long reach and catch prohibited a closer finish.

Afterwards, longtime Ponderosa coach Dwayne Brekke immediately saw the big picture of a late surge, great season and promising future. The Bruins, who fought back from a 4-0 deficit to beat Del Campo 12-4 in a first-round game, will graduate just four seniors. Their previous defeat before Thursday was March 17.

"I'm proud of the girls. They never give up even to the last out," Brekke said. "Gusts from the Gods above kept that last one in the park. But the girl made a nice catch. Vista del Lago pitched really well, played great defense, swung the bats and made the routine plays. Kudos to them.

"It was an outstanding season. We have a lot to be proud of. One game doesn't define what they did all season. We have a lot of kids coming back and we're excited about that." Lazar is more than excited to still have a shot at a SJS title and a berth into Northern California's first regional. First up, however, is Vanden (20-0) which has outscored opponents 182-24 this season. It is led by senior outfielder Mia Santos (.641, 41 hits, 28 runs, 27 steals) and pitcher Hazyl Gray (15-0, 0.85 ERA, 136 strikeouts, 91 innings).

"We get a chance to play with the big dogs and that's what we're looking for," she said. "We know if we want to win the championship we have to beat the best teams in our division and now it's our chance to do that Tuesday."

Lazar is also grateful to coach a player like Biehl, whose talents might only be overshadowed by her character. Fifteen minutes after the final out Thursday, she was the last Eagle with a rake in her hand and picking up trash.

She rakes with a bat in her hand as well, leading the team in hitting (.577), hits (41), runs (42), RBI (32), stolen bases (18), doubles (11) and homers (seven).

"Tayler is one of those special athletes on so many levels," Lazar said. "She makes impossible plays look routine. She's always talking, always a leader, either at practice or on the field in games. She always wants more reps. She's never complacent. I've also had her in class. She's a great student.

"She's a special, special person and player. We're going to miss her."