The crosstown softball rivalry that is West Valley and San Jose City was on full display Monday afternoon at Viking Field. After six scoreless innings that showcased exceptional pitching and fielding by both squads, a seventh inning that was worth the price of admission took place under the cold, darkening sky.

City's Haley Castro, inserted as a pinch hitter, opened the top of the seventh with a double off the glove of leaping WVC right fielder Alaysia Clincy. Castro advanced to third on a Lareina Solis single and came home on a Viking infield error off the bat of Kiya Sandoval for a 1-0 San Jose lead. WVC's Shelby White then struck out Jaguar leadoff hitter Melissa Felix for the third straight time and got Alaina Valdez to pop up to short to end the SJCC threat.

West Valley's Kassady Alcazar led off the bottom of the seventh with a screaming triple just over right fielder Jade Henry. Pinch hitter Natalie Clevenger was hit by the next pitch from Valdez and the Vikings had runners on first and third with no outs. WVC coach Vicky Piatt reinserted the speedy Abigail Desa for Clevenger at first, a move that would soon bear dramatic fruit. Leadoff hitter Emma Courtney then dropped a single to right, scoring Alcazar with the equalizer and sending Desa to third. Clincy advanced Courtney to second on a sacrifice bunt, bringing up Sydney Heming. Heming sent a chopper to second that was mishandled, allowing Desa, who would probably have scored anyway, to come home with the winning run and ignite bedlam in the Viking dugout.

The win improved West Valley to 13-5, 2-0 in the Coast Conference, and dropped San Jose to 9-7, 1-1 in conference. 

White was a force in the circle, striking out ten Jaguars and scattering five hits in seven innings of work. Alcazar finished 2-3, while Courtney went 2-4 with one important RBI.