Valencia Reaches New Heights, 6-5

Valencia High captured its first outright Foothill League softball championship on Thursday in improbable fashion.

The Vikings spotted Hart five runs in the first inning, then clawed back against one of the region’s deepest pitching staffs to claim a 6-5 victory at Valencia.

Brigham Young-bound catcher Lauren Watson delivered the decisive blow, a two-run single in the fifth inning to drive in Ashley Herrera and Jaisa Creps.

Creps and Jessica Seybold each had two hits for Valencia (23-4, 10-0 in league play), ranked No. 3 in the region by The Times.

The Vikings collected 10 hits and scored three runs in the third and fifth innings against Lindsey Kontra, Ashley Calendo and Casey Pickard (11-3).

“This is probably the greatest victory ever at Valencia High School,” Coach Donna Lee said.

Hart (23-5, 8-2) hammered Tori Rocco (16-3) for five runs and six hits in the first, but the sophomore right-hander pitched well after that, striking out five and allowing only two hits the rest of the way.

Nicole Delfino, whose ground-rule double with the bases loaded sparked the first-inning rally, and Stacey Holbrook each had two hits for Hart.