Rawsons Keep It in Family

PALMDALE — Oh, sister. If it isn’t one Rawson, it seems to be another.

If Melissa Rawson isn’t adding to her lofty runs-batted-in total, then freshman Nichole is stifling opponents as one of Highland High’s top softball pitchers.

If neither of them can do it, Nichole’s twin, Natalie, is more than capable of closing the curtain for this sister act.

Such was the case on Friday in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs, when Natalie hit an RBI double with two out in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the Bulldogs a 3-2 victory over Simi Valley at Highland.

“I’m so proud of her,” said Melissa, a junior first baseman who has driven in 35 runs as Highland’s cleanup hitter. “We always back each other up.”

The Bulldogs (23-5) had the Pioneers (23-7) back-peddling all day, especially in the outfield.

They knocked around Simi Valley right-hander Brittney Green (11-6) for eight hits, including five doubles.

Three of those hits came in the final inning, when Highland rallied from a 2-1 deficit.

Shortstop Jennifer Smith’s third hit, a chop single over the head of Simi Valley shortstop Lori Tande, drove in Katy Gonzales with the tying run.

Smith moved to second on a sacrifice, but was unable to advance to third when the next batter, Melissa Rawson, hit a sharp grounder to second for an out.

Enter Natalie Rawson.

“I knew I had to score that run,” Natalie said. “I just didn’t want to go extra innings.”

Smith, who has committed to Rhode Island, finished three for three with a walk. Her second double, a shot to right in the sixth, drove in Ashlie D’Errico and cut the margin to 2-1. Gonzales was two for four.

“What a great comeback,” Highland Coach Glenda Potts said. “We’d had runners on base all game, so the kids believed they could score runs against this team.”

Simi Valley’s Green, who had earned respect as one of the toughest throwers in the pitching-rich Marmonte League, retired Highland in order only once.

The Bulldogs had at least one runner in scoring position in every inning but the second.

It was a bitter loss for Simi Valley, which began the season ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times and jockeyed with Marmonte League rival Camarillo between Nos. 1 and 2 throughout.

“This is real tough,” said Coach Suzanne Manlet, whose team finished tied for second place in league and lost three of its final four games. “We felt we had a great team, but we got beat by a great team, as well.”

Simi Valley took a 2-0 lead in the third after Tande hit an RBI double to right and later scored on Green’s single.

But Nichole Rawson (7-2) worked her way out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth and managed to keep the Bulldogs in the game.

Few teams have been able to silence the Bulldogs’ bats, which makes their second-round matchup on Tuesday intriguing.

Highland, which batted .369 during the regular season, will face Pacific League champion Crescenta Valley and freshman right-hander Meredith Cervenka (18-0), the region’s only undefeated large schools pitcher.

Crescenta Valley defeated Palmdale, 7-0, in another playoff opener.

The victory marked only the second time Highland has advanced beyond the first round, but many of the Bulldogs are veterans of pressure games.

The Rawsons, as well as freshman catcher D’Errico, were members last summer of the Parkview Little League All-Stars, who captured the Senior Little League national championship in Kalamazoo, Mich.

* ACE PERFORMANCE: Meredith Cervenka struck out 13 and extended her scoreless innings streak to 71 in Crescenta Valley’s 7-0 victory over Palmdale. C14

* LAST-MINUTE VICTORY: Rhianna Rogers scored in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Rio Mesa a 4-3 victory over Saugus. Southern Section Roundup, C14