Cougars, Angels Win Softball League Championships

Editor's Note: The following is a recap of the May 12 championship games and closing ceremonies for the San Bruno Girls Softball League.

The day started with our closing ceremonies. The ceremony included a dedication to our recently retired president, Bill Bishop, and his wife Nellie Bishop.

Both Bill and Nellie have given the last 30 years to San Bruno Girls Softball. As Bill ran the league, Nellie made sure the league's snack shack kept everyone fed. We renamed the main field at Parkside for all softball purposes to Bill Bishop Field (known as Parkside North). And we named our unnamed snack shack Nellie's Snack Shack.

Bill threw our the "closing pitch," ending the season. Bill was presented with a plaque in appreciation of all his hard work. Also, our new perpetual trophy carries Bill's name.

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The first championship game of the day was for our Minor Division (ages 8-10) between the Angels and the Curbies. The Angels are last year's defending champs and were the high seed entering the finale. The Curbies started the game quickly and scored five runs out the gate.

The Angels came back with two runs in the second inning and two more runs in the third, and finally tied it up in the fourth.

The game remained tied through the bottom of the seventh and last inning. In the bottom of the inning, the home team, the Angels, had Julianne Downs and Chloe McNamara leading off the inning. The Angles get on board with runners on second and third base with no outs.

The Curbies called for time and intentionally walked the batters to load the bases and create a force at each bag. The next batter up struck out and the runner on third tried to steal home and was called out. That left two outs with runners still in scoring position.

The Curbies pitcher threw a wild pitch and the runner from third scored, and the Angels won. It was a tense game.

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The second championship game of the day was for our Junior Division between the Cougars and the Knockouts. It was fitting that the Cougars were in the championship game this day because Bill Bishop coached the Cougars for many years.

The first game was tough for the Cougars, who entered as the high seed. They lost 7-5 but needed to be beaten twice as the playoffs were double elimination and they hadn't lost.

The second game had all the workings of a classic. After seven full innings, the game was tied at 3-3. The Cougars' Harmonie Ahuna pitched three innings in the first game and pitched the entire second game, and was ready to continue in the international tie-breaking inning.

The international tie-breaking inning started with a runner on second. After numerous attempts and great plays, neither team scored in two consecutive international tie-breaking innings.

It was finally what would normally be the 10th inning that the Cougars set the table. With bases loaded and one batter out, the Cougars sent slugger Amber Abugharbieh up to bat.

On the first pitch, Amber sent one deep into left field and one-hopped the fence. The runner scored, and the ball game was over. The Cougars won with Bill and Nellie in the stands.

—Submitted by Christopher Jordan