MORENO VALLEY — There would have been a bitter feeling if the Valley View softball team lost Tuesday.
The Eagles had the potential winning run taken off the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth inning after a controversial ruling. Annamaria Nuno made sure Valley View celebrated at the very end, however, as she smacked a walk-off single to lift the Eagles to a 2-1 victory over Cypress in a CIF Southern Section Division 1 wild-card game.
The Eagles (15-9-1) will travel to No. 1-seeded Oaks Christian (28-0) for a first-round game Thursday.
Valley View’s head coach Eddie Torres, left celebrates with Annamaria Nuno #15 after her walkoff single in the bottom of the 8th inning to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game against Cypress in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View players celebrate with a victory dance after defeating Cypress in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 celebrates their victory over Cypress in eight innings to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 celebrates after scoring the game winning run on a walkout single by Valley View’s Annamaria Nuno #15 to defeat Cypress in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s outfielder Daiyah Bailey #19 and outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 give a Gatorade bath to Annamaria Nuno #15 after her walkoff single defeated Cypress in the 8th inning of the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress Breana Townsend #7 and Cypress Nora Fernandez #6 hug after their season ends with the 2-1 loss to Valley View in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress Nora Fernandez #6 and Cypress Taylor Monteleone #34 wipe tears from their eyes after their season ends with the 2-1 loss to Valley View in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress Vise Zarate #12 watch as Valley View players celebrate their victory in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 steals second base before the tag by Cypress shortstop Brianna Holguin #21 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View head coach Eddie Torres argues a call with the home plate umpire against Cypress during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s Annamaria Nuno #15 is mobbed by teammates after hitting a walkoff single in the 8th inning off Cypress pitcher Vise Zarate #12 to win the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress first baseman Alexa Meraz #24 helps Cypress second baseman Madeline Granados #5 after getting something in her eye against Valley View during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s Arissa Santos #5 completes the double play over Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
A walkout single by Valley View’s Annamaria Nuno #15 flies over the head of Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s Giselle Morales #13 is unable to catch the pickoff throw as Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 dives back to first base during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress head coach Kevin Dull and Cypress first baseman Alexa Meraz #24 celebrates her solo home run off Valley View pitcher Janessa Santos #7 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 catches a ball hit by Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 but is unable to hold onto it as she crashes to the field during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Natalie Wilson #10 smiles after hitting a single off Valley View pitcher Janessa Santos #7 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 celebrates her inside the park home run against Cypress during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress first baseman Alexa Meraz #24 celebrates her solo home run off Valley View pitcher Janessa Santos #7 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Home plate umpire signals two strikes as Valley View plays Cypress during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 watches as a solo home run clears the center field fence hit by Cypress first baseman Alexa Meraz #24 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress Mikala Jacobsen #3 steals third avoiding the tag of Cypress Breana Townsend #7 during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress head coach Kevin Dull talks with his team during a timeout against Valley View’s during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View’s Janessa Santos #7 pitches against Cypress during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 catches a ball hit by Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 but is unable to hold onto it as she crashes to the field during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 catches a ball hit by Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 but is unable to hold onto it as she crashes to the field during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 catches a ball hit by Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 but is unable to hold onto it as she crashes to the field during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 catches a ball hit by Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 but is unable to hold onto it as she crashes to the field during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Cypress outfielder Jaelyn Gutierrez #22 catches a ball hit by Valley View’s outfielder Celeste Gonzales #3 but is unable to hold onto it as she crashes to the field during the CIF Southern Section Division 1 softball wild-card game in Moreno Valley on Tuesday, May 3, 2022. (Photo by Terry Pierson, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Valley View had runners and second and third with one out in the sixth inning and the scored tied 1-1. Cypress right fielder Jaelyn Gutierrez made a diving catch coming forward on a sinking line drive off the bat of Janessa Santos for the second out. Briana Williams took a few steps off third but appeared to go back and tag up and score the go-ahead run. The plate umpire, however, ruled Williams did not tag up.
The score remained knotted into the eighth inning, when both teams had the heart of the order due up.
Santos retired Cypress in order, getting a strikeout and a pair of ground outs to shortstop Arissa Santos.
Cypress pitcher Vise Zarate got the leadoff batter in the bottom of the eighth before Celeste Gonzales came up with her third hit of the game to get things started for Valley View. Gonzalez stole her third base of the game to move into scoring position. With first base open, Cypress coach Kevin Dull elected to walk Williams, a .500 hitter who had reached safely in her previous three appearances (single and two walks).
That decision backfired, as Nuno jumped on the first pitch and hammered it to the wall in right field. Gonzales had to wait to see if the ball would be caught and initially stopped coming around third base. The relay from the outfield took some time, so Gonzales sprinted home and slid in for the winning run.
“It’s all about believing in yourself and wanting to help your team win,” Nuno said about her feeling when Williams was intentionally walked to get to her. “I’m usually a first-pitch hitter, so I was just looking for something close to make good contact. I was just hoping really hard she wouldn’t catch it.”
Coach Eddie Torres praised his team’s ability to remain composed after that call in the sixth inning.
“The six seniors we have are tremendous leaders and hold this team together,” Torres said. “You look back at the big moments that helped decide this game, and they were in the middle of most of those.”
Valley View grabbed a 1-0 lead in the first inning in unusual fashion. Gonzales lined a ball down the line in right field. Gutierrez was on the way to making a spectacular diving catch, but the ball came out of her glove when she hit the ground. Gonzales circled the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
Cypress (12-16) tied the game in the fifth when Alexa Meraz crushed a home run to straightway center.
It was one of the few mistakes made by Janessa Santos, who tossed a five-hitter and struck out five.She retired nine of the last 10 batters, and the one batter that reached was erased on a double play.
“I tried to stay relaxed and take some deep breathes,” Santos said. “My defense really had my back.”
Zarate was the hard-luck losing pitcher Tuesday, as she scattered seven hits and struck out five.
