LA HABRA – There was no way La Habra senior Reese Ruvalcaba was going to let rival Sonora back in the Freeway League title chase, and she made sure with her own home run derby.
Ruvalcaba slugged a two-run homer in the second inning and a three-run homer in the third.
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra watches her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting a two run home run against Sonora in the second of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting a three run home runs against Sonora in the third of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting a two run home run against Sonora in the second of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra celebrates at home plate after hitting her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting a two run home run against Sonora in the second of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
A fan raises his hands wearing a wrestling masks as Centerfielder Kendal Smith #15 of Sonora watches as Reese Ruvalcaba (not pictured) of La Habra hits a two run home run in the second of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Bayle Hunnicutt #18 of Sonora throws to the plate against La Habra in the first of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alexia Ramirez #11 of Sonora save at third base ahead of the tag by third baseman Britney Moreno #13 of La Habra in the first of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Brooke Piwowar #4 of Sonora reacts after a solo home run against La Habra in the fifth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra watches her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Skylar Limon #13 of Sonora scores on a inside the park homer as catcher Kristina Carlson #19 of La Habra reacts in the fifth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Alexia Ramirez #11 of Sonora save at third base ahead of the tag by third baseman Britney Moreno #13 of La Habra in the first of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Marissa Rodriguez #3 of La Habra throws to the plate against Sonora in the first of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Bayle Hunnicutt #18 of Sonora throws to the plate against La Habra in the first of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting a three run home runs against Sonora in the third of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra high fives head coach Brandon Shaw of La Habra after hitting her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting a two run home run against Sonora in the second of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra watches her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Starting pitcher Marissa Rodriguez #3 of La Habra throws to the plate against Sonora in the first of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra celebrates at home plate after hitting her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
Reese Ruvalcaba #4 of La Habra reacts after hitting her third home run of the day a three run home run against Sonora in the sixth of a prep softball game at La Habra High School in La Habra on Thursday, April 21, 2022. La Habra won 11-4. (Photo by Keith Birmingham, Pasadena Star-News/ SCNG)
In the sixth inning, she was hit by a pitch in the midsection, but the umpire called her back to the plate, ruling the ball clipped her bat first.
So of course, you know what happened next.
Ruvalcaba struck her third homer of the game, a three-run shot, giving her eight RBIs for the day, and that was more than enough to help the Highlanders secure the league title with an 11-4 victory over the Raiders on Thursday.
“There was a lot of frustration in that hit,” Ruvalcaba said of her third homer. “But I don’t know, it was amazing.”
La Habra’s Reese Ruvalcaba talks after her three homer day in an 11-4 victory over Sonora for the Freeway League title. She has 8 home runs this season. pic.twitter.com/ghQO98Da3t
Amazing. Ruvalcaba was hit by a pitch just before her third homer, but the ump ruled it hit her bat first. You be the judge, but all it did was give Ruvalcaba another swing and you know what she did with it. pic.twitter.com/10hyDmcp8w
Ruvalcaba pushed her home run total this season to eight, but she never imagined a three-homer game.
“No, never,” Ruvalcaba said. “The last time we played Sonora at home I went 0 for 4, so I was thinking I need to have a game to make up for that.”
La Habra coach Brandon Shaw was impressed but not surprised by Ruvalcaba’s big day.
“It was (Reese) being resilient, sticking to the game plan and being aggressive,” Shaw said. “She had a heck of a day, and against our rival, that’s a memory of a lifetime.”
La Habra softball coach Brandon Shaw after a 11-4 win over Sonora that clinched the Freeway league title pic.twitter.com/K9ZtSHjyA7
It was the 13th straight league title for La Habra. It was extra special for the Highlanders since they clinched it with a win over Sonora, which had shared the past two league titles.
La Habra improved to 15-6 overall and 8-0 in league while dropping the Raiders to 13-9 and 7-2.
Senior pitcher Marissa Rodriguez was glad La Habra likely won’t have to share it this time, needing just a win in their final two league games to secure it outright.
“It was a big accomplishment for us and we’re just happy,” said Rodriguez, who gave up seven hits to go with five strikeouts. “Us seniors really worked hard for this. It was a big accomplishment for sure.”
And like everyone, Rodriguez had her thoughts on Ruvalcaba’s big day.
“She is amazing, she’s committed to trying,” Rodriguez said. “She’s a beast. I love her.”
The Raiders tried to battle back in the fifth inning. Brooke Piwowar’s solo homer was followed by Skylar Limon’s inside-the-park homer that trimmed the Highlanders’ lead to 6-2. But Ruvalcaba’s three-run homer in the sixth stretched the lead to 10-2.
Sonora’s Presley Munoz belted a two-run homer in seventh inning, but Rodriguez stayed in to finish the job and join the celebration.
La Habra’s Kristina Carlson also had a big day with four hits and Baylie Kakallis had three hits and two RBIs.
“They were ready from the start,” Shaw said of his team. “They stuck to the game plan, were aggressive at the plate and played solid defense and it paid off.”
Reese Ruvalcaba, have yourself a day! The La Habra slugger followed a two run homer with a three run homer, 5-0 over Sonora, third inning pic.twitter.com/GKmeJDU3ar
