First-Rate Performances

Cori Herbert giveth and Cori Herbert taketh away.

After surrendering a two-run home run in the first inning, Hoover High’s Herbert hit a wind-aided homer to left field for the go-ahead run in the sixth and survived a wild seventh to beat Crescenta Valley, 3-2, Thursday in a Pacific League game in front of about 250 at Montrose Community Park.

“I think Hoover took one from us today,” said Crescenta Valley Coach Alan Eberhart, whose No. 5-ranked Falcons (15-4, 3-1 in league play) fell one game behind Hoover. “I told the girls we’re not gonna make excuses. I give Hoover all the credit. They came from behind and beat us on our own field.

“Two runs should be enough to win games with Melinda [Moulden] pitching.”

Herbert (12-3), who surrendered a two-run homer to Hope Robertshaw in the bottom of the first, allowed only two hits, but walked three and hit two batters.

The freshman right-hander, who struck out six, had trouble controlling her riseball in the gusty wind and threw two pitches into the backstop with the tying run at third in the seventh inning.

But Crescenta Valley’s Heidi Huchthausen, who tripled to lead off the seventh, hesitated on the back-to-back errant pitches.

Those weren’t her only opportunities to score. Her line drive to right gave her a stand-up triple but when the throw home was wide to the catcher, Huchthausen, a sophomore, held her ground.

The throw sent catcher Justine Takizawa scrambling up the left-field line--nearly into the dugout. After Takizawa ran down the ball, she turned and overthrew Herbert waiting at the plate and the ball went rebounding around the chain-link backstop. Still, Huchthausen stayed put.

“Softball is a lot of skill but you always have to have a little luck,” Herbert said.

The next batter, Laura Scott, hit a liner at second baseman Guinevere Platt, who made the catch and overthrew third base trying to double up Huchthausen.

Huchthausen bolted for the plate following the overthrow, but third baseman Diane Lee threw a perfect strike to nail her at the plate.

“Isn’t life funny?” Hoover Coach Kirt Kohlmeier said. “I know whatever happens these girls are gonna back each other up. There’s something about them. I fear nothing with them.”

Hoover (13-3, 4-0), ranked No. 6 by The Times, had five hits against Moulden (13-4) and tied it, 2-2, in the fifth with a two-out rally. Karla Nanne scored on a wild pitch and Evelyn Crowder scored on a infield single by Sedalia Cueva.

Herbert’s homer--her third--was a two-out blast that sailed over the left fielder’s head.

“That was the best ball I’ve ever seen hit in high school and I’ve seen some balls hit,” Kohlmeier said.