Softball: San Dimas takes over first in the Valle Vista with an 8-6 win over rival Northview

But San Dimas (9-5, 4-0) will take it, moving the Saints into sole
possession of first in the Valle Vista League while giving Northview (9-6, 3-1) its first league defeat.
"We're seeing that across the board," said Saints coach Don Pollard, whose team pounded out 14 hits. "Everyone is struggling with the extra three feet. You got hitters crushing the ball and forcing your defense to make big plays.
"Today was the perfect example right here. We crushed the ball and they crushed the ball, we were just fortunate to get a couple more runs than they did."
Northview ran itself out of a possible big inning in the sixth, but Vikings coach Jeff Butler was more disappointed in what happened in the seventh, because they were in a good position to come back.
Trailing 8-6, The Vikings had a runner on second with one out when Jazmin Chavez hit a hard single that dropped in front of centerfielder Courtney Hine. Instead of holding at second and allowing the go-ahead runner to come up next with one out, the Vikings runner on second tried to take third after getting a late jump and was thrown out.
Although Mercedes Menchaca followed with a single to put runners on the corners, the Saints got a ground-out to end it.
"The one (out at third) in the seventh was tough because it was a hard-hit ball right in front of the centerfielder," Butler said. "It was obvious it was going to fall in, but there was some confusion and she just went. It's human, it happens and we'll try to correct those things next week because base-running errors really took us out of the game."
Pollard certainly felt fortunate.
"It was a huge play in the game," Pollard said. "They're looking at saving outs, to get that second out and get a runner off base, that was the difference in the game."
The Saints took a commanding 6-0 lead in the second inning, all six runs
coming with two outs.
Ashley Vinsonhaler's double drove in a run and freshman Janell Wheaton's double drove in two more. An error extended the inning and the Saints batted around the order.
"They hit the ball hard, but we have to play better defense," Butler said. "We still almost came back, but you can't go around staking teams to six runs, that makes it tough to come back."
Northview scored three in the second and three in sixth inning, Menchaca leading the way going 4-for-4 with two runs scored.
For the Saints, Hine had three hits and scored twice, and Sara Moore was 3-for-4 with a run scored.