CYCLE NOW COMPLETE FOR COUGARS AFTER BEATING BULLARD IN 24 INNINGS IN THE SEMIFINALS, CLOVIS HANDLES BUCHANAN TO WIN THE YOSEMITE TITLE.
Lisa Burnett THE FRESNO BEE

When Karla Snider's big moment arrived with two outs and a runner on in the sixth inning of the Central Section Yosemite Division softball championship Friday, the Clovis High junior had two people on her mind -- seniors Jamie Southern and Pam Perez, playing in their fourth consecutive championship.

Snider made both very happy by slapping a double to right-center field, driving in pinch-runner Sabrina Johnson, and the Cougars went on to a 1-0 victory over rival Buchanan at Clovis High.

The Bears didn't go quietly in the seventh. Ashley Croff reached on an error leading off, stole second and went to third on Sarina Aguilar's groundout, but Southern got a popout and a strikeout to end the game.

Southern, who followed an incredible performance in Wednesday's 1-0 section-record, 24-inning victory over Bullard with a one-hitter against Buchanan, pumped her fist and jumped up and down when the umpire signaled the final strike.

"I knew this was my last [high school] game, and I didn't want to go out losing," said Southern, bound for Fresno State. "I came in with a Valley [title], I wanted to leave with a Valley."

Southern and Perez, a standout at second base, helped Clovis win its fourth title in 1997 and its fifth Friday.

"I'm glad I got to leave winning the last one," Perez said.

Thanks in no small part to Snider, a center fielder in her first varsity season.

Danielle Parks led off the Clovis sixth with a double to left. Marie Western struck out the next two batters, bringing up Snider, who had been 0 for 3.

"When I got up to bat, the thing I was thinking of was Jamie and Pam," Snider said. "They are such good players, it's unbelievable."

Perez, who hit a leadoff double only to be stranded at third in the fifth inning, had complete confidence Snider would come through: "She was due. I was so excited for her, for everyone."

Some expected a Clovis letdown after Wednesday's marathon against Bullard, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 3 in the nation. Not Southern.

"I wasn't worried, but I made it clear to everybody that it wasn't over, that we still had one more to win," she said.

Southern, who increased her section record for career hits to 201 with four off Bullard ace Marissa Marzan in the semifinal, did her part Friday despite going 0 for 3.

She reached base twice and allowed just two base runners -- Elizabeth Pierce, who singled in the second, and Croff.

"Jamie's just one of the best, and they've got a great team," Buchanan coach Del January said.

Southern struck out seven and walked none.

Western allowed six hits, struck out six and walked two in 52/3 innings. Amanda Rodriguez pitched to one batter to end the sixth.

The Cougars had at least one runner in scoring position in every inning, but couldn't get the clutch hit until Snider delivered in the sixth.

"Karla really carried us the middle of the season," Clovis coach Mike Noel said. "She had struggled a little bit coming into the playoffs. [But] when it came down to the final one, she did the job."

Clovis shortstop Alex Belardinelli was 2 for 2 with a walk.