Ramona Falls Short in Bid for Softball Championship

The 2011 season will provide plenty of fond memories for the Ramona High softball team, and even a lopsided loss in the San Diego Section Division III title game can't dim what the Bullldogs accomplished.

University City High won its third straight championship Saturday at UCSD, scoring seven runs in the first inning on the way to a 12-2 romp. The game ended after Ramona batted in the fifth inning under the 10-run mercy rule used in CIF softball.

Fourth-seeded Ramona advanced to it first championship game ever thanks largely to a 2-1 upset of the top-seeded Centurions (25-3) a week ago. But after allowing seven hits and the seven runs in the opening inning, it was an uphill climb the rest of the way.

"There's nothing you can do when that happens,'' said Ramona coach Antoinette Rodriguez. "It deflates you to the point that it's hard to stay focused. But despite that start, it was awesome to get here for the first time.''

The Bulldogs (17-15) could only generate three hits. Their two runs came in the fourth inning when Julie Ward was safe on an error, K.K. Melgoza doubled, and  Kellsie Domnitz came through with an RBI single. The second run came home on another UC error.