DIVISION I SOFTBALL: Moore’s home run lifts Cougars to title

RENO — Cami Moore’s state softball tournament experience consisted of one at-bat and a few appearances as a courtesy runner before she stepped to the plate in the fourth inning of Saturday’s winner-take-all Division I final.

The diminutive Spanish Springs sophomore had never faced Rancho ace Sam Pochop, who allowed just one hit in the first three innings and had beaten the Cougars in the first game of the day.

Moore made her presence known in a big way, belting a pinch-hit two-run homer to left field to lift the Cougars to a 2-1 win over the Rams at UNR’s Hixson Park and to their fourth state title in 10 years.

“It’s the best feeling I’ve ever had in my life,” Moore said. “I didn’t really expect to go in until my coach told me. I just stayed relaxed.”

Moore’s only previous at bat in the state tournament was a flyout to right in a pinch-hitting role against Shadow Ridge on Thursday, but with center fielder Regan Hubbard struggling just to make contact against Pochop, Spanish Springs coach Jeff Davidson went to his bench.

“I had a gut feeling to go with Cami in that spot, and she came through big time,” Davidson said. “Cami has been swinging the bat good, and I told her to just go in and see the ball and hit the ball. She’s not a power hitter, but she got a pitch and she drove it.”

Moore ripped an 0-and-1 pitch for her first home run of the season, scoring courtesy runner Savannah Martin for a 2-0 lead. Martin ran for pitcher Hayley Fein, who had reached on a two-out error.

The Rams, who scored five runs in the top of the seventh inning to beat Spanish Springs 6-2 in the day’s first game and force the winner-take-all final, had plenty of chances to score, leaving the bases loaded in the third and fifth innings.

It took until the bottom of the seventh for Rancho (31-9) to finally score. Consecutive one-out singles by Gianna Carosone and Pochop put runners on the corners, and Tiare Lee’s sacrifice fly to center scored Carosone to make it 2-1.

“They are fighters,” Rancho coach Amanda Zunno said. “They fought until the end. I couldn’t ask for anything more. The girls left it all on the field.”

But Fein, who broke down in tears in the circle during Rancho’s first-game rally, got Kat Anthony to ground out to first to end the game.

Fein stranded 11 Rams on base in the second game, including seven in scoring position.

“I told her I believed in her all year long,” Davidson said. “Our team really supported her defensively this year, and that’s the key to the success.”

Pochop deserved a better fate and was pitching her fourth game in 27 hours as the Rams fought back after losing their opening-round game to Reed.

Pochop didn’t allow an earned run all day Saturday, surrendering two unearned runs on four hits and striking out seven in the first game. Both runs in the second game were unearned, and the Cougars (28-15) had just three hits.

“Her stamina, that’s something she prides herself on anyways,” Zunno said. “She wanted that pressure because she can handle it.”

Rancho was bidding for its first state title in 36 years.

“To be able to work with these girls that I have seen grown for the last four years as their head coach, I couldn’t ask for anything more,” Zunno said. “It’s overwhelming with good emotions.”

Contact reporter Bartt Davis at bdavis@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-5230.