Tatyana Vega’s appearance in the pitching circle Tuesday night was meant to be as if divine intervention was involved.
Sunnyside was originally scheduled to play Salpointe on Monday night on its diamond but a pipe under the field busted, causing a flooded area in the circle. Administrators from both schools agreed to reschedule the game at Salpointe on Tuesday.
Tuesday also was the day of the funeral of Vega’s grandfather, Steve Vega Sr.
“I know he would want Taty to pitch today,” her father Raul Vega, a Sunnyside assistant coach, said with emotion before the game started.
As if by fate, Tatyana, a senior captain, not only pitched a few hours after attending her grandfather’s funeral, but she had one of her best performances in her high school career.
She led her team to a 2-1 victory, outdueling Salpointe ace Macee Jackson, with a dominant complete-game performance. She scattered five hits while striking out nine and walking one.
“He’s out there at every single game, cheering me on,” she said of her late Tata. “I know he was here in spirit. He would’ve loved to see me beat Salpointe. They’re a great team. He would’ve loved to see me kick some butt.”
With a heavy heart after attending her Tata’s funeral earlier in the day, Sunnyside senior captain Tatyana Vega had one of her best performances in her high school career – perhaps the best. Sunnyside defeated Salpointe 2-1 behind her performance in the circle – only five hits… pic.twitter.com/gjB5etjA7d
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 19, 2025
The support of her family, coaches and teammates leading up to the game was important against Salpointe, a program that Sunnyside coach Ozzie Carbajal terms a “dynasty” because of the Lancers’ four straight 4A state titles.
“It was tough because I know what Taty was going through,” Carbajal said. “What she did was just amazing. She really wanted this game.
“What happened yesterday (with the postponement) put everything in perspective, too. Here we go, we play today, the services of her grandfather, and it was tough. She played great. She pitched lights out. I am so happy for her.”
The postponement to Tuesday meant Carbajal had to discuss with Tatyana if she still wanted to pitch on the same day as her grandfather’s funeral.
“She wanted it, and I told her, ‘Babe, it’s your decision, whatever you want to do, it’s on you. We’re going to go how you want to go,'” Carbajal said. “She said, ‘Coach, I want the ball.’
“She got it. She did great. She pitched so good and I know it’s all from the heart. She pitched a hell of a game.”
Sunnyside coach Ozzie Carbajal talks about the importance of beating Salpointe 2-1 to improve to 7-2 overall. The Blue Devils won the emotion-filled game rallying around senior starting pitcher Tatyana Vega, who pitched a complete-game victory on the same day she attended her… pic.twitter.com/3Wpe0NR1Za
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 19, 2025
The Blue Devils (7-2) and Lancers (5-4) met for the first time since 2019 because both programs have traditionally been in different conferences with Sunnyside at a higher classification because of enrollment.
Tuesday’s victory is Sunnyside’s first over Salpointe since 2011. The Lancers had won four straight against the Blue Devils with victories in 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
“Great competition — this is my first time playing them,” said senior first baseman Soleil Ponce, a co-captain along with Tatyana. “I’ve played with multiple of these (Salpointe) girls, even the pitcher (Jackson). I played with Macee before, when we were younger.
“Playing these high-caliber games is crazy. It will just make you better as a ballplayer and as a person.”
Soleil and Tatyana have attended school together and played on the same softball teams dating to their elementary and middle school days at Gallego Intermediate in the Sunnyside Unified School District.
Their bond will continue after graduating from Sunnyside with each signing with Pima College’s successful program.
Soleil shared in Tatyana’s grief for the loss of her grandfather because of the family atmosphere within the program. Many of the players have known each other since they started playing softball. They see many of the family members of the players as the years go by.
“We are so proud of her,” Ponce said of Tatyana. “The whole game we were telling her, ‘This game is for him.’ After we won, we said this game was for him and that he was here with us.
“She is a different type of ballplayer coming out here after that.”
Sunnyside first baseman Soleil Ponce had two of the three hits Salpointe ace Macee Jackson allowed in the Blue Devils’ 2-1 win over Salpointe. Ponce, who scored a run, is one of Sunnyside’s senior captains along with pitcher Tatyana Vega, who went to the circle on the same day… pic.twitter.com/KQnjWtrF0O
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 19, 2025
Tatyana’s performance was the best this reporter has seen and I’ve watched her pitch quite a few games dating to her middle-school years.
Salpointe had at least one baserunner every inning but one.
She battled with a high level of concentration, exhibiting determination no matter the circumstance.
Before the Lancers scored their lone run in the bottom of the fifth, the bases became loaded after she hit a batter with a pitch. The run came across on a sacrifice fly hit by Arizona-bound Molli Daley. The threat of runners on first and second base ended with a groundout.
The leadoff batter in the sixth inning, Leylani Cuesta, singled but Tatyana retired the next three batters.
With two outs in the seventh, she recorded her only walk and CC Moraga advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tatyana buckled down and got the following batter to strike out to end the game.
“I would rate it a ’10,'” Tatyana said when asked to assess her performance compared to others in her career. “I’ve been wanting this game since my freshman year. Beating a state championship team – what else can I ask for than my team coming out and all of us playing together.”
On the day she attended her grandfather’s funeral, Tatyana Vega pitched a complete-game victory for Sunnyside.
Blue Devils beat Salpointe 2-1 . https://t.co/BLnUgLwAZY pic.twitter.com/ftr8TMDXpJ— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 19, 2025
Ponce managed two of the three hits Jackson allowed in the game.
Her hit to leadoff the game was followed by another single by Vianney Cruz. Ponce and Cruz advanced a base following a wild pitch. They both scored on a passed ball that eluded the catcher long enough for Cruz to race home from second base.
That proved to be all the run support Tatyana needed.
Ponce went 2 for 2 with the only walk Jackson allowed — an intentional walk with one out in the fifth inning that loaded the bases and created a potential out at any base.
“Getting the intentional walk felt really good,” Ponce said. “That never happens, even when I hit. As a slapper, that’s crazy.”
Jackson got the next two batters out to keep the deficit at 2-0 going to the bottom of the fifth.
Jackson finished with 13 strikeouts and went the distance without giving up an earned run.
“I think she pitched a really strong game,” Ponce said of Jackson. “I went in there with a solid game plan. I just knew that if the pitch went down the middle, I was going to attack it. Getting that first pitch (in the first inning) out of the way, really calmed my nerves I guess.”
Tatyana said she was comforted by how Ponce and her other teammates supported her from the funeral to the ballpark.
“It just made me more relaxed that my team has my back and that they’re all there for me, for anything,” she said.
With a heavy heart after attending her Tata’s funeral earlier in the day, Sunnyside senior captain Tatyana Vega had one of her best performances in her high school career – perhaps the best. Sunnyside defeated Salpointe 2-1 behind her performance in the circle – only five hits… pic.twitter.com/gjB5etjA7d
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 19, 2025
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