Norwalk softball beats La Mirada in 15-iing thriller

NORWALK >> Breaa Vasquez is arguably the top pitcher in the Suburban League. But she can hit too, and proved it Wednesday with first place on the line.

Vasquez hit a game-ending double to score Briana Lopez in the 15th iing to give host Norwalk High School a 3-2 victory over La Mirada and the inside track to the league title.

Valerie Zavala had two hits and two RBIs for the Lancers, who improved to 12-7 overall and 8-1 in league play. Vasquez also gave up 11 hits and struck out 15 to improve to 9-3. Djhane Valido had two hits and two RBIs for the Matadores, who slipped to 15-11 and 7-2.

The teams meet again on Friday at La Mirada. A Norwalk win would clinch a share of the league crown.

“As soon as (Lopez) got on, my mentality changed,” Vasquez said. “My mentality was get her in. We played so many iings I just had to get her in.

“I prayed and I got a good pitch and drove the run in.”

Norwalk, which went 12 iings without scoring after taking a 2-0 lead in the second, finally broke through with two outs in the 15th. Lopez walked before Vasquez hit a drive to deep center that went to the fence. Lopez raced home, beating the relay throw and tag by catcher Jeneve Medrano to win it.

“It gets us the lead, but it gives us more confidence,” Vasquez said. “We have to come out and win again.”

La Mirada, which had just one hit through the first three iings, tied it at 2 in the fifth on a two-run double by Valido. But Vasquez induced Rain Vega to fly out to end the iing.

The Matadores, who were 2 of 11 with ruers in scoring position, had a chance to win it in the ninth. Kaylee Medrano singled with one out and advanced to third on a double by Angel Urbina, who went 4 for 6. But Medrano was picked off third on a botched squeeze play and Vasquez struck out Nicole Barrow.

La Mirada also had a shot in the 13th after a walk to Madison Bogdanovich and a sacrifice bunt. But Vasquez induced a pop out and then struck out Maya Martinez.

“We left a lot of ruers on,” La Mirada coach Brent Tuttle said. “It was just one of those games. Somebody’s going to break through. They got the big hit and we didn’t.

“We left the bases loaded twice, left ruers all over the place. I think we hit the ball hard. It was just the one hit they got was the big one.”

Norwalk got the early lead in the second on a two-run double by Zavala.

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Alexis Bonilla, who replaced Jessica Martinez in the second, was solid in the circle for La Mirada. She gave up six hits in 13 1/3 iings and struck out 13.