DeSilva's fifth-inning, run-scoring single snapped a 7-7 tie and started the Rosebuds of the Sunnyvale National Little League on the road to a 10-9 victory over the Sunnyvale Southern Wildcats in the finals of the District 44 girls major softball Tournament of Champions.

DeSilva was the starting pitcher for the Rosebuds and had won 11 straight decisions. But the Wildcats knocked her off the mound with four runs in the fifth to tie the game 7-7. Relief pitcher Stephanie Dobson came on with the bases loaded and no outs and retired three straight—two on strikeouts—to get the Rosebuds out of the jam.

Kelley Sanders opened the bottom of the sixth for the 'Buds by working a walk on a 3-2 pitch. Elizabeth Chavez sacrificed her to second, and DeSilva followed with the single that knocked in the tie-breaking run.

The Rosebuds weren't finished yet, though. Celine Kealiihnohumoku singled to drive home DeSilva and, an out later, Katherina Afuola doubled home Kealiihnohumoku to make it 10-7.

The 'Buds would end up needing all of those 10 runs to nail down the victory and the TOC title. The Wildcats clawed back for two runs in the top of the seventh when errors allowed Alexa Wallin and Kristin Werling to score a couple of unearned markers. But Dobson got the last three hitters on a pop fly and two ground balls to nail down the victory.

It was the 21st straight victory for the Rosebuds. The girls lost their game of the season, then won 19 league games to win the division championship and qualify for the TOC. In the tournament, the Rosebuds beat Cupertino American 10-3 before edging the Wildcats 10-9.

DeSilva and Afuola each had two hits to knock in two runs apiece in the championship game. Afuola ripped a pair of doubles. Kealiihnohumoku had the only other hit for the winners.

Rounding out the team were Christine Lozano, Amanda Zavasky, Jennifer Lopez, Malyka Pettigrue, S. Kaiser and Esveydi Lopez.

Jaime Mangan had two hits for the Wildcats and Megan Burns, Wallin, Emma Dugan and Abby Dugan added singles.

Other members of the Wildcats were Kristina Roome, Elena Clack, Anisha Mauze, Heather Andrews, Ann McKinley and Alex Vivairos.


Jr. Olympic qualifiers

The Mountain View Nova 10 and under girls softball team, led by pitchers Rachel Mahoney and Berlyn Rippentrop of Sunnyvale, placed third at the Northern California Junior Olympics held at Twin Creeks in Sunnyvale. The third-place finish helped Nova qualify for the California State Junior Olympics to be held July 19 in San Diego.