NorCal DIV softball: Smith's walk-off lifts Alisal into finals

SALNAS — The magical dust that makes up Alisal’s gray softball infield has extended an historic season into its fifth month.

About all that has been missing during a record-shattering season for the Trojans has been a walk-off win. Now, you can check that box off as well.

“We haven’t had one this year,” freshman Brooklyn Smith said.

Smith’s two-out, two-strike, run-scoring single in the bottom of the 11th inning created jubilation Thursday, propelling Alisal to a 5-4 win over Live Oak of Morgan Hill and into the Northern California Division IV finals.

With their record-breaking 22nd win, the No. 2-seeded Trojans will host Escalon on Saturday at 1 p.m. for the Northern California title.

Alisal was expecting to make a 300-plus mile drive to face top-seed West Valley of Cottonwood, which beat Escalon 14-5. However, a player for West Valley was ruled ineligible after playing for her travel team during the postseason, which is prohibited by the California Interscholastic Federation.

“I’ve been coaching for 30 years, both baseball and softball,” Alisal coach John Nieto said. “That’s the best game I’ve ever been a part of. It was a nail-biter.”

The Pacific Coast Athletic League Mission Division and Central Coast Section Division I champion Trojans are 4-0 in the postseason, becoming the first girls’ program at Alisal to capture a CCS title.

“The atmosphere was intense,” said Smith, who has a travel ball game on Sunday. “It was very loud. There isn’t usually a lot of fans at our games. It was an amazing feeling.”

Having been the team’s hottest hitter over the past seven games, Smith’s heroics came after Live Oak pushed across a run in the top of the 11th inning to take a 4-3 lead.

“Our dugout was nervous,” Smith said. “I got my teammates to change their mindset. I never stopped believing. Once we scored the tying run, I think we felt good that we were going to win this game.”

Coming to the plate with two outs and Aubrey Jones at second base, Smith took two strikes, before battling off a couple of pitches and evening the count.

“I was thinking walk-off,” Smith said. “I was looking to punch one through the gap, hit it hard somewhere on the ground. I felt good in the box in my previous two at-bats. I told myself stay calm and go through your mechanics.”

Smith ripped the ball between the third baseman and shortstop into left field, where third base coach Sunil Smith did not hesitate in waving Jones home.

“There was no question I was sending her,” said Sunil Smith, the associate head coach. “Once I saw the pace of the throw, I knew she was going to make it.”

As Jones raced around to beat the throw, the Trojans’ dugout erupted in a wild celebration, as Brooklyn Smith said she ran straight to her dad Sunil, and chest-bumped him.

“It was the perfect combination,” Nieto said. “Brooklyn has been our hottest hitter of late. And our fastest kid was at second base. I knew once the ball got past the shortstop, I had no doubt she was going to score.”

Brooklyn Smith is one of five freshmen who start for Alisal, which held a 2-0 lead in the seventh inning following a two-run double from freshman Chloe Rubalcava in the first inning.

Jones finished with three hits in the leadoff spot for Alisal, while Rubalcava, Brooklyn Smith and Aaliyah Ruiz all collected two hits, with Micah Smith and Abigail Walker driving in runs.

Walker was cruising along before giving up a two-run homer in the seventh to Adia Seider.

“I will be honest with you, when we gave up the two-run jack, I felt like it deflated us momentarily,” Nieto said. “But we stayed the course. All these young kids have grown up quick.”

Walker, who improved to 12-1 on the season, struck out nine for Alisal, which has won seven straight, and is 19-1 over its past 21 games.

“I haven’t had a chance to think about Saturday being our last game,” Brooklyn Smith said. “Luckily, I get to play with most of these girls next year. I’m sure after the season, it’ll all sink in.”

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This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 9:27 PM.