Garfield Is Near Perfect in Capturing 1st City Championship : Girls’ softball: Limon’s no-hit pitching, strong defense and timely hitting do the trick for the Bulldogs.

Just outside the gates of UCLA’s Easton Stadium playing field, the Garfield High School softball team celebrated. Head coach John Benson and members of his team were exchanging high fives, hugging and shaking hands with parents, friends, fans and teachers.

That was the scene after Garfield (18-3), behind the no-hit pitching of senior Alma Limon, defeated top-seeded Verdugo Hills,3-0, for its first City championship May 23.

Players took turns holding the softball championship trophy. When Benson was handed the trophy, he cradled it and lauded the efforts of his team, then injected a somber note into the proceedings.

“This is for Richard Morris,” said Benson, noting he had dedicated Garfield’s season to the late swimming coach and close friend, who died in a freeway accident March 20.

Limon was spectacular. In pitching a near-perfect game, she retired 18 straight batters before yielding a walk to Jodi Kent in the seventh inning.

“Winning the championship feels great,” said a relieved Limon, whose college choices have been narrowed down to Cal State Los Angeles or Cal State Fullerton. “Everybody did a great job. Our defense came through for us again.

They made a lot of good plays today. I’m excited. I’m happy.”

“Alma deserves to be City Player of the Year,” said Benson. “She’s the best pitcher in the City. We don’t need a lot of runs . . . just give us one run and Alma won’t lose it.”

Verdugo Hills (14-4), making its third consecutive appearance in the 3-A finals, had scored 38 runs during the first three rounds of the playoffs, but the Garfield pitching and defense was up to the challenge.

*

“We were ready today,” said catcher Jennifer Inzunza, who will attend Cal State Fullerton next fall. “It’s like a dream come true. It went just like we planned it. We felt Mr. Morris was with us.”

With two outs in the second inning, Garfield second baseman Liz Mendez positioned herself under a pop fly by Verdugo Hills’ Tiffany Galante. Mendez slipped as the ball descended, but she caught it while lying on her back to end the inning.

In the third, Rhianna Slimak hit a sinking line drive down the first base line, but right fielder Letty Cruz caught the ball before it hit the ground.

“The girls have worked so hard this season. They deserve all the accolades they get,” said Benson. “We played the perfect game . . . flawless and errorless. We kept Kent off the bases until Alma walked her. We were ready for them to bunt. We were in the right position to field their grounders.”

*

It was a frustrating day for Verdugo Hills head coach Dan Balkey, who led his team through a tough preseason schedule that included strong Southern Section teams such as Crescenta Valley and La Canada and City 4-A powers San Fernando and Reseda.

“We already knew we had a young outfield,” said Balkey. “We were playing nervous out there today. (Garfield) is a good team. They deserved to win it.”

After a pitcher’s duel that saw Garfield strand three runners in the first five innings, the Bulldogs finally broke the ice in the sixth. With the outfield playing in, Maria Medina lined a 3-2 pitch over Slimak for a triple. Medina eventually scored on a bloop single by Vanessa Cordona, who advanced to second base on the throw home.

“I was trying to protect the plate,” said Medina. “I usually pull the ball to left field, so our opponents tend to play me deep. They were up this time. When I got to third base, I just crossed my heart and thanked God.”

Wood (13-3), who recorded a game-high nine strikeouts, seemed to be in control until Garfield’s outburst in the sixth. She entered the game with a ERA of 0.75.

Inzunza sacrificed Cordona to third and Monica Abundis walked, Mendez singled home Cordona for the 2-0 lead.

For Garfield, it seemed to be the right time and the right place.