Southern Section Softball : Ramirez’s Double Lifts El Monte to Title, 3-2

The El Monte Lions, on a seventh-inning double by left fielder Veronica Ramirez, defeated the Chino Cowgirls, 3-2, Friday to win the Southern Section 2-A girls’ softball championship at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

On an 0-and-1 count, Ramirez pounded the ball into left-center field to knock in pitcher Stacey Campbell and break a 2-2 tie.

“The pitch was right up the middle and I knew I had to get it through, so I just swung away,” Ramirez said.

In the bottom of the seventh inning, Campbell served up two ground balls, then struck out the last batter for the win.

El Monte (25-1), Mission Valley League champions, got to Chino pitcher Mitzi Leitzman early, getting three hits in the first inning. Although none of the hits led to runs, Leitzman had her problems throughout, walking eight batters, hitting two and throwing a wild pitch. Chino catcher Stephanie Dykstra didn’t help, letting four passed balls through.

Leitzman hurt her own cause in the second inning when she hit two batters, made a fielding error to load the bases, then walked in the first run of the game.

In the fifth inning, Leitzman walked the first two batters. The leadoff hitter, Sally Navarro, reached third on a passed ball and a wild pitch, then scored on a pop to deep center field by Ramirez.

Chino tied the game in the fifth as right fielder Chris Cota reached second on an error. Catcher Stephanie Dykstra reached first safely, with Cota scoring.

Colleen Cowan then hit a single up the middle, scoring Dykstra.

With the game tied in the sixth inning, Chino loaded the bases with one out. Stacey’s sister, Jodi, made a fine play from third, forcing the out at home. The next batter grounded to short to end the threat.

It was Campbell whose control helped secure the win for the Lions.