Vikings Split With Owls, Await Postseason Fate

Haley Walker is mobbed by Viking teammates after third-inning homer
Haley Walker is mobbed by Viking teammates after third-inning homer

The West Valley softball team closed out the regular season with a split against Foothill on Sophomore Celebration Day Wednesday in Saratoga. In game one, Haley Walker led off the third with a solo home run to left center that game the Vikings (18-16, 6-8 Coast) the only run they would need. Jessell Lewis kept the Owls (16-18, 4-8) off the board to pick up the complete game win. Eight Viking sophomores - Samantha Fletes, Sammi Hodges, Maddy Lucey, Reina Maldonado, Janelle McAfee, Malia Pula, Siobhan Taylor and Haley Walker - were honored between games. Game two saw the Owls jump out to a 4-0 lead, highlighted by Gabby Mataele's three-run HR in the third. West Valley chipped away, scoring one in the fourth on Maldonado's RBI single, two in the fifth on RBI singles from Lucey and Pula, and tying it at 4-4 in the sixth on Walker's run-scoring double to right-center. Mirella Osuna knocked in Tiana Bolin in the top of the seventh for the 5-4 win. West Valley now awaits its postseason fate. Seedings for the CCCAA NorCal playoffs will be announced Saturday.