Softball: Game at Lake between Poway, RB hits 20 years

It’s a special time for softball in Poway and Rancho Bernardo.

This is Game at the Lake Week, the annual battle between Poway and Rancho Bernardo that takes place during the first week of Palomar League play.

The game on Friday at Lake Poway pits defending San Diego Section Open Division champion Poway, ranked No. 2 in the county, against No. 9 Rancho Bernardo at 7 p.m.

What makes the game a bit more than just another softball game is that this is the 20th time the rivals have met for the doubleheader — the junior varsity game precedes the varsity game — at the lake.

Poway leads the series 10-9.

And it all began as a one-time thing when Poway coach Jim Bennet, then the Titans’ JV coach, told varsity coach Jeff Lusk he’d like to see the varsity plays just once.

“I still wouldn’t trade this game for anything,’’ Bennet said. “I never thought it would last beyond just that first year, but Jeff and I thought it went well so we thought why not continue it.

“I never thought it would last 20 years.’’

Poway, Rancho Bernardo and Mt. Carmel played night games at the lake until Mt. Carmel was shifted to a different league, leaving Poway and Rancho Bernardo to continue on alone.

Poway and Rancho Bernardo began playing in 1997 with the Broncos besting Poway in the first three meetings.

The Titans finally broke through with a win in 2000 in a very weird game known simply as The Sprinkler Game.

With two outs in the seventh inning and Poway holding a slim 4-3 lead, the sprinklers at the lake automatically turned on, forcing a halt to the end of the Friday night game.

The two teams met the following week, warmed up completely and, four pitches later, the Titans recorded the final out.

“That was my most memorable game at the lake,’’ former Broncos coach Tracy Stowe said. “Almost from the start, the game became an awesome tradition under the lights so more people could watch.

“It was unreal how well it took off. To me, there were only pros to play the game there, no cons.

“Now it’s engrained into the culture of Poway-RB softball.’’

Last year’s game, played in front of an estimated crowd of more than 500 softball fans including fans from other teams, might have been the best game of the series.

After crossing their fingers all day that the rain would hold off long enough to get the field ready, Rancho Bernardo scored a pair of runs in the top of the 12th inning only to have Poway roar back with three runs to end the three-hour struggle.

Poway scored one run on an error and another on Morgan Lutticken’s single, setting the stage for Gabby Callaway’s run-scoring single to left.

“That’s how most games at the lake have gone,’’ Bennet said, noting that only a 7-2 win the Broncos in 2009 is the only blowout. “I can’t remember the last time I left the lake thinking we’d just played in an ugly game.’’

Besides three extra-inning games and the Sprinkler Game, another highlight of the series is the no-hitter pitched by Poway’s Mandy Brown in 2002, the year the Titans went on to win their first section title.

Rancho Bernardo coach Summer Boyle played shortstop four times at the lake for the Broncos, losing three times and winning 1-0 in 2004.

This will be the eighth time she’s coached the Broncos at the lake. Thanks to Poway winning the last four games there after Rancho Bernardo strung together a five-game winning streak, Boyle enters with a 3-4 record at the lake.

“When I played in that game I was never nervous, not like I am as the coach,’’ said Boyle, whose maiden name was Downs. “I tell the girls this almost resembles a CIF Final because of the atmosphere.

“This is a game the girls should remember forever.’’

Bennet is 7-6 at the lake against the Broncos.

“As good as it is to be there watching that game,’’ said Bennet, “it’s 10 times better to be a part of it on the field.’’