SOFTBALL: QUEEN OF THE FOOTHILL VALENCIA WINS SHARE OF LEAGUE WITH VICTORY VALENCIA 6, BURROUGHS 2.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

VALENCIA - Valencia High's softball team continues to feast on Foothill League competition, as the Vikings pounded 12 hits - including two home runs, a triple and three doubles - in a 6-2 victory Thursday over visiting Burroughs of Burbank.

The victory, Valencia's 16th in a row, gave the Vikings a share of the Foothill League title with two games remaining.

``We did a lot of work on our hitting, and it's paid off,'' said Valencia's Danyale Peterson, whose deep fifth-inning home run to center, her fifth of the year, was only the third over-the-fence home run in school history.

Peterson, a four-year starter, had been waiting her entire career to hit one over the fence on her own field, and she did so in the final home game of the season.

``I had to have one before I left,'' she said.

``That was the longest ball ever hit here,'' Valencia coach Donna Lee said. ``Petey's got a great swing, and she tore the cover off the ball.''

It didn't take long for Valencia (24-3, 8-0) to set the tone, as Ashley Herrera led off the bottom of the first by legging out a home run over right fielder Noemi Escamilla's head, Herrera's sixth of the season and 12th over the past two years.

Kourtney Bell added two doubles and two RBI, Jaisa Creps was 2 for 4 with a triple, and Krystan Reed was 1 for 2 with an RBI double and a sacrifice.

Meanwhile, dominating right-hander Tori Rocco (12-2) retired the first 13 in a row, finishing with a three-hitter and four strikeouts.

``Someone told me in the middle of the game that I was throwing a perfect game, and the next inning I messed up,'' said Rocco, who has two perfect games this season.

``But I think we did pretty good today. We'll keep working, and we won't let up because we want to stay No. 1.''

Burroughs right-hander Dani Regan (11-10) allowed 11 hits and five earned runs in five innings, striking out two.

Burroughs (11-10, 3-5) parlayed two singles, an error, a hit batter and a fielder's choice into two runs in the top of the seventh. Sara Burdick and Lisa Dennis had RBI singles.

The game ended when Burdick was thrown out at the plate.

Valencia, which has now won three league titles in a row, is ranked No. 1 by the Daily News and No. 3 in Southern Section Div. I.

``We're doing really well,'' Peterson said.

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Danyale Peterson (8) is congratulated by her Valencia High teammates after hitting her fifth home run of the year in the Vikings' 6-2 victory Thursday.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer