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    El Modena softball beats La Habra with walk-off HR from Sofia Ramos
    • April 24, 2026

    ORANGE — El Modena’s performance in the field was less than stellar in its Crestview League softball game against La Habra on Thursday at El Modena High School.

    El Modena committed nine errors, but it didn’t matter after Sofia Ramos’ eighth-inning home run lifted the Vanguards to a 6-4, walk-off victory over the Highlanders.

    The dramatic victory helped to erase the memory of the miscues committed by the Vanguards (13-12, 5-4), which led to four unearned runs for La Habra (17-7, 5-5), ranked No. 3 in Orange County.

    El Modena players begin to celebrate after Sofia Ramos' two-run, walk-off home run for a 6-4 victory over La Habra in a Crestview League Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
    El Modena players begin to celebrate after Sofia Ramos’ two-run, walk-off home run for a 6-4 victory over La Habra in a Crestview League Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

    El Modena is ranked No. 10 in the county.

    “These are the challenges that we have been facing all year,” El Modena coach Bobby Calderon said. “This year has been a real learning process because we’ve had so many situations, health-wise. But these girls’ ability to stay together, fighting for each other, that shows in these situations right now.”

    Devin Drummond singled to lead off the eighth for the Vanguards.

    Then Ramos stepped to the plate in a situation where the Highlanders were probably expecting a bunt, Calderon said.

    “I think the book probably tells you, hey, a runner gets on, sacrifice bunt,” Calderon said. “Try to get a pitch and bunt the ball. She saw two good pitches and took a good swing at the first one. (The Vanguards’ other coach) and I looked at each other and we said, let’s go. We’re going to let her hit.”

    Ramos also figured the La Habra would be expecting a bunt when she stepped into the batter’s box.

    “I’m pretty small,” the sophomore said. “I was just looking to make contact, just looking to put the ball in play and get on and help my team in any way possible. I think as soon as the ball touched the bat, I knew that it was gone.”

    El Modena's Sofia Ramos hit a two-run, walk-off home run in the eighth inning as the Vanguards defeated La Habra 6-4 on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
    El Modena’s Sofia Ramos hit a two-run, walk-off home run in the eighth inning as the Vanguards defeated La Habra 6-4 on Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

    Even with the nine errors, Vanguards starting pitcher Ahsley Driskill pitched out of trouble and minimized damage.

    La Habra’s first three batters of the game all reached base on errors.

    The Highlanders scored twice, with one run scoring on an error and the other on an RBI single from Mireya Gonzalez.

    La Habra still had the bases loaded with no outs in the first inning, but Driskill retired the next three batters, leaving the runners stranded.

    The Highlanders also had runners in scoring position in the third, fourth and fifth innings but Driskill and the Vanguards got out of trouble without allowing a run in each of those innings.

    El Modena pitcher Ashley Driskill delivers a pitch during the Vanguards' 6-4 victory in eight innings against La Habra in a Crestview League game Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)
    El Modena pitcher Ashley Driskill delivers a pitch during the Vanguards’ 6-4 victory in eight innings against La Habra in a Crestview League game Thursday, April 23, 2026. (Photo by Lou Ponsi)

    After La Habra scored in the first, the Vanguards came right back with three runs in their half of the first, with one of those runs scoring on a single from Brooklyn Calderon.

    Ramos scored from third on a ground out in the second inning to give El Modena a 4-2 lead.

    La Habra scored twice in the sixth to tie the score and send the game to extra innings.

    The Crestview League title is far from being decided. El Modena, Cypress and Pacifica are in a three-way tie for first place with three league games remaining for each team.

    “Anybody could take it at this point,” Calderon said. “You’ve got to show up every single day and give it everything you have to scratch out a victory.”

     

    ​ Orange County Register 

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