There is an intensity to elimination softball games. Win and you live to play another day. Lose and you’re packing the gear, saying goodbye to your teammates.
Never was that more evident than at Westview High School early Tuesday evening.
Helix rallied to score three runs in the ninth inning, survived a two-run Westview comeback and escaped with a 7-6 CIF San Diego Section Division 2 play-in game victory.
Helix celebrated by throwing their gloves in the air. Minutes later, Westview players huddled in right field for the last time, some in tears.
“I was talking about it to teammates in the car on the way to the game,” said Helix’s Lillianna Benabdeljalil, a sophomore who lined a two-run single in the ninth inning. “It was play for each other. I want more time with these seniors, who don’t have a lot of time left at Helix.”
Said senior pitcher Katelyn Woodland, who earned the win: “It’s give it your all. Leave whatever you have on the field. No regrets.”
Helix (17-6) advances to the double-elimination phase of the tournament and faces No. 2 seed West Hills on Wednesday. Westview finishes the season 17-9-1, a five-game winning streak and the season coming to an end.
The game did not begin well for Helix, which trailed 4-0 after two innings. But the Scotties came in averaging 10.7 runs per game, so their heads weren’t bowed.
“We believe in our bats and no one gave up,” said Helix coach Molly Sturdivant.
The Highlanders cut the lead in half with two runs in the fourth. Benabdeljalil, who finished 2-for-5 with three RBI, knocked in one of the runs with a double. Helix tied it in the fifth when LaNiah Broom cleaned the bases with a two-run triple.
From there, pitching dominated until the ninth.
In the ninth, Benabdeljalil came up with the bases loaded and two outs.
“I was very nervous,” she said.
The sophomore got a second life when a foul pop was dropped near the first-base fence. Given a reprieve, she lined a sharp two-run single off the third baseman’s glove.
“Coming through,” said Benbdeljalil, “that was exciting.”
Freshman Ella Aguayo knocked in the key third run of the inning with a single.
In the bottom of the ninth, Westview had scored one run and had runners on first and second with one out when Woodland was brought back in to pitch. She had pitched five shutout innings before being relieved in the ninth.
“I just ed to breathe,” said Woodland (5-1), who was credited with a win and save. “Trust my defense and know they want it as much as I do.”
After a single to load the bases, Woodland closed the door on a fly to right and grounder to shortstop.
“She did an amazing job,” said Sturdivant.
Lauren Farace went 4-for-5 for Helix and scored two runs. Sarah Deng went 3-for-4 for Westview with a single, double and triple, scored two runs and knocked in one.
