SUNRISE REGION: Petrolia, Falcons ‘never say die’ in wins over Gators, Wildcats

Foothill pitcher Alex Petrolia has been around long enough to know that postseason victories rarely come easily.

The veteran senior was forced to endure extreme heat, poor defense and a bases-loaded jam in the sixth inning Friday, but she remained calm to lead the Falcons to a 4-2 win over Green Valley in the losers’ bracket final of the Sunrise Region softball tournament at Foothill.

It was her second win of the day and lifted the Falcons (26-8) into Saturday’s championship, where they will play Coronado (22-11) in an 11 a.m. game at Bishop Gorman.

Under the tourney’s double-elimination format, Foothill would have to beat the Cougars twice to claim the title.

“I live for that situation,” said Petrolia, whose team was clinging to a 4-2 lead when the Gators (16-12) loaded the bases on a single and a pair of Foothill errors with one out in the sixth. “My team always has my back, and today I got a chance to have their back.”

Petrolia, whose teammates committed six errors, struck out the next two Green Valley batters to get out of the jam.

“They never said die,” said Foothill coach Tom Mayes, whose team dropped a 1-0 decision to Green Valley on Wednesday. “And they were able to forget the mistakes they made.”

The Gators were the first to make a mistake, as a throwing error kept the third inning alive and allowed Rhiana Balaun to line an RBI single down the third-base line to give the Falcons a 1-0 lead.

The Gators answered in the fourth, going ahead 2-1 by making the most of two singles and three Foothill errors.

But Aricia Dami and Lauren Penksa had singles to lead off the Falcons’ half of the fourth. Hannah Stevens and Chelsi Stewart capped the inning with RBI singles to put Foothill ahead, 4-2.

That set the table for Petrolia’s sixth-inning heroics, which secured the victory for the Falcons.

Petrolia, who also pitched six innings in Foothill’s 9-0 win over Las Vegas earlier Friday, said she was prepared for a long day.

“That’s what I train for,” she said. “I train to play that many games.”

Stewart went 3-for-3 with an RBI to lead Foothill’s offense, and Penksa went 2-for-3. Petrolia tossed a four-hitter while striking out seven.

Maggie Manwarren had two hits to lead the Gators.

In the opening game, Balaun went 2-for-3 with an RBI to help the Falcons advance with a victory over the Wildcats (21-13).

Foothill scored three runs in the first inning and three more in the third to provide a comfortable lead for Petrolia, who combined with Jordyn Derflinger on a six-hitter.

Penksa and Dami each had a two-run double to help Foothill.

Kristina Nelson had two hits to lead Las Vegas (21-13).