Christmas, New Year's and Super Bowl Sunday all came early for Homestead softball coach Steve Allemandi when Noa Yakir transferred to the Cupertino school from crosstown Monta Vista.
"I'm not complaining," Allemandi said Tuesday after Yakir hit two home runs and drove in all of her team's runs in a 3-1 victory against rival Wilcox.
The victory gives Homestead (14-2, 6-0) sole possession of first place in the Santa Clara Valley Athletic League De Anza standings. Wilcox (13-4, 5-1) drops into second place.
"She's just so strong," Allemandi said of Yakir, a sophomore third baseman. "It's like in a cartoon where the ball goes screaming into the outfield. In batting practice she's hit balls to third base of the other field. She has a good eye and unbelievable power."
Wilcox found that out in the first inning when Yakir sent a SCUD over the fence in right-center field for a 1-0 Mustangs lead.
But Wilcox was revved up for the showdown and bounced back with a solo homer in the fourth by Brianna Ledesma to tie the game 1-1.
Then came the sixth when Homestead's Chelsea Convissar hit a one-out single up the middle. That made it difficult for Wilcox pitcher Morgan Ratliff to pitch around Yakir who made the Chargers pay. Her first-pitch, two-run shot over the fence put Homestead in control.
"It felt good," Yakir said. "It's fun to hit one over the fence. It gives me and everyone else energy."
That includes Homestead pitcher Katie Moss, who allowed just two hits, struck out 12 and walked nobody, despite a recent bout with the flu.
"It's a relief," Moss said of the power surge. "It's always nice to get some insurance runs. You know your team has your back."
Added Moss: "This was a big game for us. Everyone was pumped up. They're the team to beat and it was crazy loud out there. We had kind of a vendetta because we let two (games) go to them last season."
Homestead won the league title in 2011, but Wilcox rebounded to win it all in 2012.
Yakir now has six home runs in just 16 games.
Wilcox coach Lauren Stott was disappointed, but not crestfallen as she prepared to depart the Charger dugout.
"She's a good hitter," Stott said of Yakir. "We were warned. But there wasn't much to complain about today. We played solid defense. Our pitcher pitched a good game, but we just didn't put the bat on the ball enough. Our girls are pumped up to get a chance at (the Mustangs) again."
The teams meet again in the league finale at 4 p.m. May 9 at Wilcox.
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John Murphy can be reached at jmurphy@Prep2Prep.com.
