By Mike Considine

On a day meant for reflection, Edison extended the legacy of its former coach while adding another chapter to its recent history.

In District 28-4A, Edison (13-15-2, 9-2) knocked Brennan (15-11, 9-3) out of first place Tuesday with a three-run rally in the bottom of the seventh inning. The outburst allowed the Golden Bears (not to be confused with Brennan’s Bears) to snare an 11-10 victory at Mary Ann Villarreal Field No. 1.

The win was especially meaningful as it was the first annual Pitch For the Cure game to benefit breast cancer and raise awareness of the disease research. Former Edison coach Villarreal died of breast cancer in 2010.

The loss completed Brennan’s district season, so Edison is assured of at least a tie for first place for the second-straight year under coach Aimee Silva. The Golden Bears can win an outright title with a victory over Jefferson (13-14-1, 7-4) 7:15 p.m. Friday at Villarreal Field No. 2.

“(The girls) worked really hard every day,” Silva said.

The Golden Bears won their third-consecutive game and seventh district win in a row, since losing back-to-back games March 13 and 14.

Edison’s Celeste Vela was the winning pitcher in a game of momentum swings. The Golden Bears rode their first-place showdown adrenaline to a 4-0 lead in the first inning. They added two more runs in the second to counter a run from Brennan.

The Bears then caught a wave of their own. A four-run third helped Brennan build a 10-6 lead by its half of the sixth.

Edison was within two runs when the inning ended, helping it to secure the win with another offensive infusion in its last at-bat.

“I think they just gave themselves the opportunity to get in position to score,” Silva said.

In typical Golden Bears style, they put the ball in play and capitalized on the outcome.

With bases loaded and none out in the seventh, No. 9 hitter Mari Quinones hit into a force play. Brennan got the lead runner out at the plate, but an errant return throw to third base put Edison within 10-8. Brittany Salinas scored on the play.

With Quinones at second base and April Escobedo at third, Vela smacked a two-run single that gave Edison the walkoff win as well as made herself the winning pitcher.

“We had been struggling at the bottom of the lineup,” Silva said. “It ended up that our No. 9 hitter came through that inning. When we got to the top of the lineup, I knew we’d score some runs.”

It was the fourth straight year that Edison has either won or shared the district championship. The streak extends to Villarreal’s last Golden Bears team in 2010.