CHATSWORTH - When Port Of Los Angeles High softball junior second baseman Destiny Sambrano hit a high fly ball to shallow left field in the top of the eighth inning with two outs, everyone held their collective breath, even Sambrano herself.

"I was terrified that the ball would be caught," Sambrano said. "I just watched the ball." 

Just like everyone else did, but as it dropped in front of the Chatsworth left fielder just over the head of the charging third baseman and shortstop, it led to senior pinch-runner Beatriz Herrera scoring from second base, as the visiting Polar Bears emerged victorious, 1-0 over Chatsworth in a classic CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division 1 quarterfinal playoff battle on Monday.

It marked the first time ever that the six-year program had ever won a playoff game away from home, and in doing so, they ensured that there will be a new champion in the process. POLA (27-4 overall) avenged last year's 8-6 semifinal loss to the Chancellors (20-7-1), who last year won it all for the first time.

And all it took was a lucky bounce that went the way of the Polar Bears, and Sambrano.

"I didn't care about making an extra base because the only thing that mattered was Beatriz scoring," Sambrano said. "I thought I ended our turn but when I saw how far back the left fielder was I was in shock. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't the best hit but I'm glad it worked out. I knew I had to make something happen and I'm so happy I did."

Sambrano's hit was the last of only three POLA could conjure up against Chatsworth senior pitcher Kyla Gendler, last year's City Pitcher Of The Year who tossed a three-hitter with a hit batter, two walks and seven strikeouts.

In fact, it was Sambrano who nearly scored in the first inning off a single by Gendler's counterpart, POLA junior pitcher Analise De La Roca. However, a great throw by Chatsworth sophomore center fielder Ruby Salzman, the first of two great defensive plays on the day, gunned down Sambrano at the plate. 

POLA would then counter with a top play of their own in the bottom of the fourth inning that managed to keep the game scoreless, compliments of senior center fielder Vanessa Munoz.

Salzman just blasted a one-out triple that landed three inches fair down the right field line, the first three-bagger allowed by the Arizona State-bound De La Roca all season, but Munoz saved the day, catching a fly ball to shallow right-center hit by junior catcher Lindsey Lowe, then fired a perfect throw to the plate towards freshman catcher Allison Torstensen to nail Salzman for an inning-ending double play.

"I heard the third base coach telling the runner to tag, so as soon as I caught it I just knew I had to get the ball in as soon as possible," said Munoz, the only player on POLA's team who knows what it's like to win a City title, which she did as a freshman 3 years ago for the 2013 Division 3 crown. "It felt really good knowing that I was able to make that crucial play for my team."

Sambrano added: "That was an amazing play. It really changed the tempo for u and gave us a chance, allowing us to compete, and eventually win."

De La Roca did her usual thing to keep the Polar Bears in the game, hurling a two-hit shutout with two hit batters and 11 strikeouts, with her ninth strikeout that ended a perfect bottom of the sixth giving De La Roca yet another milestone, her 400th strikeout of the season, the first in CIF-LACS history to accomplish that feat. There was nothing fancy at all about her game plan.

"I was going pitch-by-pitch trying to give my team the best opportunity possible to stay in the game and give us a chance to win," De La Roca said matter-of-factly.

POLA threatened in the top of the seventh inning when sophomore right fielder Brittany Mercado led off with a sharp, first-pitch single off the glove of Chatsworth senior third baseman Christina Ogawa, but the Polar Bears stranded Mercado on second, along with sophomore third baseman Angie Vargas, who was hit by a pitch with one out, on first. De La Roca retired the Chancellors in order to force the game to go into an extra frame.

Freshman left fielder Melanie Arent led off the eighth inning with a four-pitch walk, then Herrera, who stole home in a 5-4 victory over neighbor San Pedro two months earlier, was inserted to run for her. Freshman shortstop Yolanda Racaza struck out swinging, but Munoz's sacrifice bunt moved Herrera over to second base, to set up Sambrano.

Only one word could describe Sambrano's clutch moment that followed when she popped up the 1-and-1 pitch to shallow left that somehow found a home on the Chatsworth green...

"Awesome!" De La Roca exclaimed. "Destiny came through when we needed it."

Still, De La Roca had to hold up her end in the bottom of the eighth, retiring senior pinch-hitter Delilah Gomez, who's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth beat Cleveland of Reseda last Thursday, with a ground ball to sophomore first baseman Allison Dukes for the first out. Ogawa would get an infield single, then stole second when sophomore Lyndsey Zamora was caught looking for De La Roca's tenth strikeout.

Finally, De La Roca would finish off the historic win for the Polar Bears by fanning Chatsworth freshman second baseman Tea Carbajal.

The Polar Bears, who also edged Birmingham of Lake Balboa, 1-0 in the first round last Thursday, will try to pull out one more road win out of their hats on Wednesday as they once again take another Valley excursion to top-seeded El Camino Real of Woodland Hills, a 6-4 winner over ninth-seeded Kennedy of Granada Hills, in their third straight CIF-LACS Division 1 semifinal showdown.

Still POLA will savor this satisfying victory for a while before they practice Tuesday, especially Munoz.

"I had that feeling that this wasn't going to be our last game, and as a senior, I wanted to make this year a memorable one," Munoz said. "Getting the possible winning run out was the highlight of the game, and maybe even this year." 

No truer words would ever be spoken.