SAN JOSE, CA – One thing was for certain in the CIF Central Coast Section playoffs, and that was in the new playoff format that used a point system to determine seedings, there was going to be a champion crowned in Division I that had never previously won a CIFCCS title.
Now, after finishing as the old Division 1 runners-up twice, that team is Watsonville after the fourth-seeded Wildcatz beat No. 7 seed Homestead-Cupertino 3-1 on Saturday afternoon at the PAL softball stadium.
Not only was it the first section softball title for Watsonville (24-4) but it was the first softball title for any school from Santa Cruz County. In its last appearance in a CIFCCS title game in 2006 Watsonville came up on the short in a 1-0 loss to San Benito.
“I really didn’t realize it was the first CCS softball title for a school from Santa Cruz County until someone told us,” Watsonville Coach Scott Wilson said.
“We have a small population to draw our softball players from and all these girls came up through the ranks of the rec leagues and have played together since they were six and seven years old,” Wilson continued. “That’s part of what makes it so special. The girls came together and trusted each other and you see the result.”
The heroine of the game was Wildcatz pitcher Jessica Rodriguez. The Nevada-Las Vegas-committed sophomore scattered eight hits and hit a batter but she struck out 14 with no walks. Rodriguez pitched out of jams in the second, third, fourth, fifth and seventh innings but even so she was pretty much in control throughout the contest.
By the time Homestead (20-11) finally pushed across a run in the top of the seventh inning it was too little too late as Rodriguez struck out the final two batters to end the game.
“I had them chasing my rise ball so that let me fool them with the change-up but I was still very nervous in that crazy last inning. It definitely had me scared,” said Rodriguez, who had 10 strikeouts in a 10-inning 1-0 semifinal victory over top-seeded Pioneer-San Jose.
Watsonville only had three hits but they made them count. The Wildcatz were also the recipient of three Homestead errors and a base on balls, and all of them factored in the runs scored.
Jazmyn Martinez reached on an error to lead off the third and scored on an RBI double by Savanah Quintana. Juliana Wilson walked to open the fourth and advanced when Liyah Lopez reached on an error. When Angelina Heredia got her second hit of the game Quintana scored, and then Lopez came around on an overthrow by the catcher on the same play.
“I’ve played with these girls since I was seven years old so everyone on the team knows each other and the town knows us all,” Rodriguez said. “This is really big for Watsonville.”
