High school softball: Defending champs Central back to the final after a walk-off hit
It is back-to-back-to-back Central Section high school softball championships for Central High.
Bella Palma hit a walk-off single that scored Alexis Rossotti from second base for a 2-1 victory over Frontier on Wednesday night.
The defending champions Grizzlies are back to the section championship and will face Clovis North at 7 p.m. Saturday at Margie Wright Diamond.
“Bella is a super clutch hitter,” Central coach Scott Gorton said. “We call her 3-2 Bella because she always works the count, but she also comes up with clutch hits and she’s had a number of walk-offs for us. I don’t trust anybody more than I trust Bella in that situation.”
Palma said she had to make it special for her teammates.
She delivered in a big way to give her team an opportunity to defend its title.
“I was just praying,” she said. “I knew we had speed at second base so I was just hoping that she was on time, enough to score.”
Kaia Galaviz pitched a four hitter and had five strikeouts. She gave up a run in the top of the seventh inning, but was confident her teammates would come through.
They did.
“We have very strong hitters,” she said. “Without question. I believe in them.”
Central will face Clovis North after the Broncos rolled past Buchanan 7-3.
The Grizzlies and Broncos split during the season in a one-run game.
“It’s another TRAC game,” Gorton said. “Every game is tough and I expect another tough game.”
Softball
Wednesday’s semifinals
Division I
No. 1 Central 2, No. 4 Frontier 1
No. 2 Clovis North 7, No. 3 Buchanan 3
Division II
No. 1 St. Joseph 10, No. 5 Clovis West 2
No. 12 Monache 5, No. 6 Mission Oak 4
Division III
No. 1 Taft 10, No. 5 Tulare Western 0
No. 2 Bakersfied Christian 3, No. 3 Wasco 2
Division IV
No. 1 Mission Prep 2, No. 4 Kerman 0
No. 3 Pioneer Valley 8, No. 2 Orange Cove 3
Division V
No. 1 Woodlake 4, No. 5 Corcoran 0
No. 6 Porterville 4, No. 2 Orcutt Academy 3
Division VI
No. 8 Nipomo 14, No. 4 Riverdale 0
No. 2 Avenal 4, No. 3 Sierra 3
Championship schedule
At Margie Wright Diamond
Friday
Division VI
No. 2 Avenal vs. No. 8 Nipomo, 4:30 p.m.
Division II
No. 1 St. Joseph vs. No. 10 Monache, 7 p.m.
Saturday
Division V
No. 1 Woodlake vs. No. 6 Porterville, 11 am.
Division IV
No. 1 Mission Prep vs. No. 3 Pioneer Valley, 1:30 p.m.
Division III
No. 1 Taft vs. No. 2 Bakersfield Christian, 4:30 p.m.
Division I
Central vs. Clovis North, 7 p.m.
