High school softball: Central Section championship drought is over for Central
Central High has become a softball powerhouse under coach Scott Gorton.
But it had been awhile since the Grizzlies reached the top step in the Central Section.
“2013,” Gorton said immediately after Central secured a 4-2 victory over Bullard for the Division I championship at Margie Wright Diamond on Saturday.
It’s the third section title in school history, according to section historian Bob Barnett.
Mia Nishikawa finished the win off by pitching two scoreless innings in relief.
“Commanded the strike zone, threw pitches to locations she wanted to,” Gorton said.
Nishikawa knew what her role was when Gorton summoned her to the circle.
“Come and pick my defense up,” she said. “I had to do a job and I succeeded at that job, and this is our moment and it’s real.”
The Knights had a 1-0 lead in the second inning, but the Grizzlies answered with a run in the bottom half of the inning.
Bullard retook the lead in the fourth inning on a fielding error.
Once again, the game was tied when Central got a run across on a fielding error by the Knights.
Central then took the lead in the sixth inning when Bella Palma hit a single to right field to drive in Cici Frazel.
Nishikawa drew a bases-loaded walk for the insurance run.
“We got an upset to be here, which is a tribute to these kids,” Bullard coach Jamie Maxey said. “I’m proud of them. They fought all year and they worked hard in practice everyday.”
Bullard defeated No. 12 Liberty-Bakersfield, No. 4 Centennial and No. 8 Stockdale. Central’s road to Margie Wright Diamond included wins over No. 7 Independence and No. 3 Clovis.
“These girls have worked hard,” Gorton said. “To be able to finish the job was really cool.”
