The Bruins had been struggling through their maiden voyage in the tough Mt. Hamilton Division of the Blossom Valley Athletic League, unable to come up with their first win but playing tough and coming close on several occasions.

The eighth time proved to be the charm, but even that was not easy as it took an extra-inning affair to nail down that elusive first division win when the Bruins (5-14, 1-7) scratched out a 5-4 victory over Leland (14-4, 3-4) in 11 innings. It didn't end pretty, but first-year coach Jennifer McGrath and her Bruins were willing to take it however it came.

Pitcher Holly Griggs shut down the Chargers in the top of the 11th inning to open the way for the Bruins to close it out. The international tiebreaker was in effect, so Melissa Enko started the inning on second base. Griggs came up and laid down a sacrifice bunt to move Enko to third. Leland then issued back-to-back intentional walks to Michelle Haughey and Audrea Lopez to load the bases and set up a force at any base.

After Leland's Vanessa Truan recorded a strikeout for out number two, Jaimie Foltz stepped to the plate. Foltz didn't have to do much but watch as Enko scrambled home on a passed ball with the winning run as the celebration began.

Just an inning earlier it looked like the Bruins might have to still wait for that first win. Leland managed to load the bases in the top of the 10th with no outs before A.J. Huffman slapped a single to push across one run. The Chargers had to settle for a 4-3 lead when the Bruins got out of the jam with the help of a line drive double-play. However, in the bottom of the inning, Cherine Hayes came through with a clutch one-out single to drive in Kacey Foltz to tie it up at 4-4 and keep the Bruins hopes alive.

"It was a huge win for our program," McGrath said. "The girls have been making huge strides during the season and have come close to winning several times. The last time we played Leland we struck out 13 times, but this time we had only six."

Griggs and Truan battled to a scoreless tie through four innings before Branham broke things open in the bottom of the fifth. The Bruins loaded the bases with one out on a double by Haughey, a single by Michelle Yankee and an error. Lopez rifled a line drive shot to the gap in left centerfield and didn't stop running until she was standing on third with a bases clearing triple to put the Bruins up 3-0.

Leland came charging back in the top of the sixth, scoring two to narrow the lead to 3-2. Kristen Rorie led off the inning with a single and Huffman followed with a solid double to put runners at second and third. An infield grounder by Talaugon sent one run home and a single by Ashleigh Adams brought in the second one.

Leland's Christina Saenz showed some pop when she clubbed a solo home run in the top of the seventh to bring the Chargers even at 3-3 and set the stage for the extra-inning excitement.

One of those closely contested affairs where the Bruins came up just short occurred earlier last week when Branham suffered loss number seven in a row when Santa Teresa was able to squeeze out a 2-1 win.

Branham gave up the two runs in the first--one unearned. The Bruins got one back in the third when they loaded the bases with a walk to Angela Hayes and hits off the bats of C. Hayes and Enko. Haughey stroked a grounder to second, which was misplayed for an error and allowed A. Hayes to score. However, the Bruins could not cash in on more and picked up only one more hit the rest of the way.

Branham continued division play this week with a visit to Westmont and will also visit Mt. Pleasant on April 29. Pioneer will come to Bruin country on May 4. All games begin at 3:30 p.m.

Leland started last week off right with a convincing 10-1 win over Santa Teresa before things went south with a 4-1 loss to Oak Grove and the subsequent extra-inning loss at Branham.

Santa Teresa had some extra incentive when Leland came visiting, since the last time the two teams had matched up was the championship game of the Charlie Miguel tourney where Leland prevailed.

The two teams battled evenly for three innings with Leland clinging to a 2-1 lead before the Chargers broke things open in the fourth, fifth and sixth with a total of eight runs to seal the win.

Jessica Talaugon went 3 for 4 and scored two runs. Saenz ripped a couple of singles to drive in three runs and A.J. Huffman was 2 for 3. Elisa Vye made the most of her pinch hitting opportunity, rapping a single to pickup two RBIs. Truan went the distance on the mound and recorded eight strikeouts.

It was a different story the next day when Oak Grove came to Charger country. The Chargers' bats were virtually silent, coming up with only three hits that produced only one run in the first inning. Talaugon bunted for a hit and Saenz followed with a single. Sara Adams loaded the bases when she reached first on a successful drag bunt. Sara Boring showed great patience at the plate as she worked her way on with a walk to bring in the run, but the rally died up right there and Leland had to settle for a 1-0 lead.

Truan shut down the Oak Grove bats and the lead held up until the sixth when the damn broke loose. Two walks and an error sandwiched around two strikeouts loaded the bases for Oak Grove with two outs. The Eagles best hitter stepped up and came through with a timely hit to bring in three runs which was good enough for the win.

After going undefeated in non-league play, the Chargers have slipped to 3-4 in division play and that is a concern for coach Joe Gron.

"Our mental game has really hurt us since we started division play, even though we are a physically talented bunch of players," Gron said. "We're just not playing very smart in our base running decisions and we're missing signs. We've been flat and unfocussed. If we play our best, we would be winning the games we've been losing."

The Chargers had a chance to get back on track this week. They were to host Santa Teresa earlier this week and will host Leigh on April 29 and travel to Westmont on May 4. Game times are 3:30 p.m.

Pioneer continued its struggle in the Mt. Hamilton campaign last week, dropping two contests to extend its losing streak to four.

The Mustangs suffered a 7-5 loss to Westmont in a game that they trailed in all the way. A bright spot was the hitting of freshman Brittney Rivas, who banged out four of Pioneer's six hits.

Last Friday Mt. Pleasant pounded out a 9-3 victory to stay near the top of the division. Junior Stephanie Morales came through with a multi-hit game for the Mustangs, slapping a single and powering a triple.

It didn't get easier this week for the Mustangs who were to face Leigh early in the week and then will host Oak Grove in a 3:30 p.m. contest on April 29.