Jeff Alexander's prediction was not perfect, but it was pretty close. When the season began, Elk Grove's coach thought his team would play Sheldon for the California Interscholastic Federation Sac-Joaquin Section Division I softball title.
He just miscalculated the paths.
"When I looked into my crystal ball, I saw us playing Sheldon again," Alexander said. "What I didn't expect was the paths taken. I don't think many people expected us to be the last team standing and coming out of the winners' bracket and them from the losers'."
Both teams advanced to today's final at the Sacramento Softball Complex after beating Fairfield on Wednesday.
Janelle Wisdom hit a three-run double and led the Herd, 27-2 overall and ranked 18th in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, to a 4-1 victory over the Falcons in a winners' bracket game. In the losers' bracket nightcap, pitcher Jolene Henderson and catcher Lindsey Ziegenhirt helped the top-ranked Huskies (30-2) eliminate the Falcons 3-0. Sheldon also sent home Napa 2-0 earlier.
Henderson pitched a no-hitter, struck out 10 and allowed one batter to reach base, and Ziegenhirt hit a solo home run.
Today's matchup will be a rematch of last year's title game. Sheldon won 3-0 in nine innings on Henderson's three-run, walkoff home run.
Elk Grove, however, has the momentum. Led by standout pitcher Allie Crump, the Herd knocked off the Huskies 4-3 on Tuesday. Crump tossed a three-hitter and struck out 10 as the Herd ruined Sheldon's chance of a mythical national championship. The Huskies entered the week ranked No. 1 in the country by USA Today.
"I have some confidence going in," Crump said. "At the same time, it's their second time seeing me. They have an idea of what pitches I used to get them out. Then again, that could get into their heads and they may second-guess themselves."
With its national title hopes gone, Sheldon enters with less pressure.
"Losing to Elk Grove the first time humbled us a little bit," Ziegenhirt said. "But it also allows us to play the next game for fun. When we had the No. 1 ranking, we had to play for everybody else."
Call The Bee's Quwan Spears, (916) 326-5517.
