Heritage Softball Team Tops Paloma in Extra Innings

Heritage High senior Cami Burnett hits a walk-off home run, her second home run of the day, in the eighth inning to earn the victory over Paloma Valley.

For the Heritage High School softball team, Tuesday’s extra-inning game was nothing new. That is, other than the outcome.

Heritage has now played in three straight extra-inning games, but earned its first win of the three on Tuesday against the Paloma Valley Wildcats, 10-9.

With the scored tied 8-8 in the bottom of the eighth inning, senior outfielder Cami Burnett hit a walk-off solo home run for the Patriots. This was Burnett’s second home run of the day, to go along with a two-run shot in the first inning.

“If Cami does well, the team does well,” said Heritage’s head coach, Angela Ramiro. “She has a positive attitude, she’s always happy, so it’s nice to have her do something like that because it gets the rest of them up.”

Starting in the fifth inning, the score of the game went back and forth between the two teams. Paloma Valley tied the game 6-6 in the top of the fifth with the help of a two-run home run by freshman Emily Berni, but Heritage took a one-run lead in the bottom of the inning, with junior Alina Ponce De Leon scoring on a passed ball.

The long ball continued to be a factor for both teams. Paloma Valley took the lead in the top of the sixth on a two-run home run by junior shortstop Savanah Ruiz. But another passed ball in the bottom of the inning allowed Heritage to tie the game.

Another home run for Paloma Valley, this one by freshman catcher Kara Shank, in the top of the seventh put the Wildcats ahead once again. However, an RBI single by Heritage junior Madyson Camacho in the bottom of the inning tied the game and sent it into extra innings.

Although the Wildcats got a runner to third in the top of the eighth inning, the Patriots were able to get out of the inning, then secure the 10-9 win on Burnett’s home run.

“It’s nice to win this one,” said Ramiro.

Burnett’s two home runs were her only hits and RBIs on the day. Camacho went 3 for 5 with one RBI for the Patriots.

Sophomore Rae Peters pitched six innings for Heritage, allowing nine runs. Ponce De Leon relieved Peters in the seventh inning and finished the game, only allowing one hit.

“I think [Peters] did an awesome job,” said Ramiro. “She’s a sophomore and she hasn’t really pitched before this year, and she’s done amazing for us. I’m really proud of her.”

For Paloma Valley, Ruiz, Berni and Kiana Broderson-Jones each went 3 for 5. Ruiz and Berni both had two RBIs.

The two teams will face off again on Thursday at Paloma Valley at 3:15 p.m. If Heritage wins, then the Patriots claim third place and have a secured spot for the playoffs. If Paloma Valley wins, the two teams are tied for third and will have to rely on next week’s games to secure a spot in the playoffs.