DIVISION I-A SOFTBALL: Quiroz-Montano’s ninth-inning RBI single sends Grizzlies past Boulder City

RENO — Vivian Quiroz-Montano isn’t one to seek the spotlight.

Spring Valley’s catcher goes about her business each day, trying to improve and help her team be successful.

The spotlight found Quiroz-Montano on Saturday.

The junior looped a two-out RBI single into short left-center field to score batterymate Michaela Hood with the winning run in the ninth inning of the Grizzlies’ 6-5 victory over Boulder City in the Division I-A state softball championship game at UNR’s Hixson Park. It’s the first softball state title for Spring Valley.

“She just goes to work and does her job every day,” Spring Valley coach Kelsey McCoy said. “She’s done a great job of continuously pushing to get better.”

Trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, the Grizzlies got a one-out RBI double from Mariah Ward and a run-scoring single from Stephanie Huff to tie the game.

After a flyout, Quiroz-Montano came up with Hood at second and Huff at first.

“I wasn’t looking for a home run; I was looking for something where (Michaela) could get home,” Quiroz-Montano said. “It was amazing, the most amazing feeling in the world.”

With two outs, Hood ran on contact as the ball hooked into left-center.

“All I remember is thinking, ‘Please hit the ground, please hit the ground and roll a little bit,’” McCoy said. “That was all we needed. I was just hoping it would hit the ground.”

Hood scored easily as the Grizzlies raced out of the dugout to mob Quiroz-Montano.

“Since we’ve been together for a while, we’ve grown together as a team,” Quiroz-Montano said. “We push through it all every day.”

Spring Valley (28-3) took a 3-1 lead into the sixth inning, but pinch-hitter Alea Lehr delivered a two-out single for Boulder City (31-11) to tie the game.

The Eagles loaded the bases on two walks and an error in the seventh, but Hood, who walked nine and struck out 11, got a 1-2-3 double play and a lineout to end the threat.

The Eagles broke through in the ninth, taking advantage of three Spring Valley errors to take a 5-3 lead before the Grizzlies rallied.

“We’ve been in enough games and learned that it’s one pitch at a time,” McCoy said. “The girls really know how to not give up.”

Hood threw 160 pitches in the game, allowing just five hits and three earned runs, and likely would have been called on to pitch a second game had the Eagles won and forced a deciding game.

“We knew we had another one, but we really wanted to get this one and get it done,” McCoy said. “I’m so happy for these girls. They’ve worked their butts off all season. We’ve really wanted it.”