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Saturday, May 31, 2008
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION I
Valencia 3, Simi Valley 0
When Valencia won its first softball championship a year ago, it had a dominant pitcher named Jordan Taylor and was the top-ranked team in the nation.
On Saturday, Valencia went back-to-back by beating the top-ranked team in the nation.
Behind the pitching of Jessica Spigner and ample production from the bottom of the batting order, third-seeded Valencia beat top-seeded Simi Valley, 3-0, to win the Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship at Barber Park.
Simi Valley (30-1), the 1993 champion, was trying to become the section's first unbeaten, untied team since Ocean View went 32-0 in 1985.
The Pioneers assumed the No. 1 position nationally on Friday in the StudentSports.com ranking. Valencia (29-5-1), ranked No. 14, was last year's national No. 1 wire-to-wire behind Taylor, the Times player of the year.
"When the game was over, we had a great season," said Simi Valley Coach Russ Michael. "You can't take that away from us."
Valencia, in its third final in four years, lost only once last season, in a game Taylor did not pitch. With this victory, it is only the third section team to repeat as a large school champion.
Spigner, a Tennessee-bound third baseman forced into pitching duty this season because of Taylor's graduation to Michigan, was splendid. She allowed four hits, only one through the first five innings. With only three strikeouts, the Viking defense was outstanding and didn't commit an error.
"We worked our whole year for this moment," said Spigner (29-5), who singled and walked three times. Her courtesy runner also scored. "There were a lot of doubters this year, thinking we were no competition, and we used that as motivation. We worked every day to get on top, and we made it. I couldn't be more proud of my team."
Valencia had runners in scoring position in each of the six innings it batted. It left 10 runners on base.
The bottom four batters in the order were collectively five for 11. The No. 8 hitter, Shannon Fitzgerald, scored two runs, in the second and fourth innings, and No. 9 hitter Alyssa Garza was two-for-two with an RBI in the first and a sacrifice bunt in the fourth-inning rally. Freshman Bethany Kemp, the No. 6 batter, had an RBI double in the fifth inning.
"They came up big, they stepped up and did a great job," said Valencia Coach Donna Lee, who also got an RBI single from leadoff batter Madison Shipman.
Valencia had eight of its 10 hits against sophomore starter Amanda Oliveto (13-1), who was charged with all three runs in 4 2/3 innings and hit as hard as she has been all season.
Michael said he thought championship experience was the difference, and Lee agreed.
"The girls felt no pressure at all," she said, referring to the many big games that it played not only this year, but in the past. "It's easy coming in as an underdog. When you're the person that's supposed to win, it's a lot tougher."
--Martin Henderson
Simi Valley 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Valencia 010 110 x – 3 9 0
Oliveto, Killingsworth (5) and DeFlavio; Spigner and Moore. W-Spigner (29-5). L-Oliveto (13-1). 2B-V: Kemp.
Records: SV (30-1); V (29-5-1).
DIVISION VI
Championship
Viewpoint 2, Faith Baptist 1
The long and short of softball played into the decisive run Saturday in top-seeded Viewpoint's 2-1 victory over second-seeded Faith Baptist in the Southern Section-Toyota Division VII championship at Barber Park.
Michelle Lesser tripled to the gap in right centerfield with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Brooke Berka drew an intentional walk, and she promptly stole second base.
Then, on a 1-2 pitch, sophomore Kelsey Kaplan hit what amounted to a check-swing bunt to first base and Lesser easily scored ahead of the throw.
"I was just trying to put the ball in play on the right side of the field," said Kaplan, who is in her first season of playing softball.
Trying to score was never a question for Lesser. "In that situation, tied, we had nothing to lose," she said. "I woiuld have een questioned if I didn't do it."
Kaplan said Lesser's hit against losing pitcher Trinity Cuff (11-6) meant everything emotionally.
"When that ball was hit for a triple, there was fire coming out of our dugout," she said.
Lesser's run broke a 1-1 tie, and after two pop-ups to shortstop and a line out to first base in the seventh inning, it gave Viewpoint its first championship.
Lesser pitched a one-hitter and struck out two. She retired the first seven batters she faced, and the last eight.
"I liked how I pitched," said Lesser (12-4), a junior was hard on herself for walking three batters.
The hit that she allowed – after a walk and error -- was an infield single to second base by Cherith Simmons that scored Faith Baptist's only run in the third inning.
It was the fourth section title of the season for the Viewpoint, but the first softball title. It came in the Patriots' first championship appearance.
Defending champion Faith Baptist (20-6) shared the Liberty League title with Viewpoint (19-5). Faith Baptist was trying to win its third softball title. The Contenders certainly gave a good account of themselves.
Cuff, the losing pitcher, allowed only two hits, Lesser's and a leadoff single to Brooke Berka in the second inning. Berka took third base on a two-out error, and scored on another error.
It's the second time she pitched a two-hitter against Viewpoint. She did the same thing on April 9, a 3-0 victory. She allowed only four hits in a 3-1 loss; one of those hits was a home run to Lesser.
--Martin Henderson
Faith Baptist 001 000 0 – 1-1-3
Viewpoint 010 001 x – 2-2-1
Cuff and Simmons; Lesser and Hodgson. W- Lesser (12-4). L- Cuff (11-6). 2B- V: Br. Berka. 3B- V: Lesser.
Records: Faith Bapist 20-6; Viewpoint 19-5.
DIVISION IV
Championship
Ocean View 8, Bishop Amat 3
For the first time since going unbeaten in 1985, Ocean View found itself in a section championship game.
The fourth-seeded Seahawks didn't waste the opportunity either. They did take their sweet time though, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Division IV title game.
It completed a near-perfect season for Ocean View (28-1), whose only other appearance in a title game came 23 years ago, a 2-0 victory over Westminster in Division 4-A. That Seahawk team, with pitcher Jackie Oakley and coached by her mother, Sarah Oakley, finished 32-0.
The defining moment Saturday was a grand slam by Brandice Cutspec, a junior third baseman whose third homer of the season was as big as they come.
"I was just hoping to get a nice hit to get us a run," said Cutspec, No. 7 in the batting order. "To get a grand slam was very unexpected."
To that point, it appeared Ocean View pitcher Holli Floetker was going to dominate Bishop Amat – and lose. She finished with a five-hitter and struck out 10. However, she had a no-hitter through five innings and a two-hitter through six, but trailed, 2-0.
Bishop Amat (22-9) scored its first run, in the fourth inning, without a hit. Erika Gonzalez scored on a double steal. Two hits and an error allowed Gonzalez to score the second run, in the sixth.
"I was going to be pretty upset if I threw a two-hit championship game and lost," said Floetker (18-1), a 6-foot right-hander who once this season struck out 22 in a 13-inning game against Segerstrom.
Bishop Amat kept getting out of trouble behind pitcher Amy Lwin (18-9) as Ocean View (28-1) stranded a runner in each of the first five innings.
But in the sixth, an error off Lwin's glove, two singles and another error cut the deficit to 2-1. Then Cutspec hammered a Lwin pitch well over the fence in left-center field for a 5-2 lead.
Lwin departed, but Ocean View was no kinder to Ariel Whiteman, rallying for three more runs on four hits.
"I was thinking it was just a matter of time, we kept getting opportunities," said Ocean View Coach Randy Cruz. "We came back in a lot of games this season."
The inning included eight runs, seven hits, two errors, a wild pitch and a passed ball.
The eight runs was the most Bishop Amat had allowed in the four seasons Walt Martin has been coach.
"We kept making plays, working magic and dodging bullets, and then it just got away from us in that one inning," Martin said. "If that right fielder doesn't make that play to end the game, we have our best hitter, Jessica Traxler, coming to the plate as the tying run."
Bishop Amat, trying to win its first title in three tries, threatened in the seventh. Two hits, a fielder's choice and a bases-loaded walk scored one run, but Sara Craig made a diving catch along the right field line to end the game.
--Martin Henderson
Bishop Amat 000 101 1 – 3-5-3
Ocean View 000 008 x – 8-10-2
Lwin, Whiteman (6) and Carlin; Floetker and Afusia. W-Floetker (18-1). L-Lwin (18-9). 2B-OV: Hitchcock. HR-OV: Cutspec.
Records: BA 22-9; OV 28-1.
DIVISION V
Championship
North Torrance 2, Torrance 1
In golf it's called a mulligan. On the school yard, it's a do-over. In softball? Let's just call it an illegal pitch.
What ever the name, North Torrance's Olivia Alvarez took full-advantage of her second chance and hit a solo home run that helped the Saxons win the division title at Barber Park.
Third-seeded North Torrance (24-10), which lost twice during the Pioneer League season to top-seeded Torrance (28-5), scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a one-out infield single by sophomore Sammy Alvillar, who also drove in North's winning run in a semifinal victory over El Segundo.
But the play of the game was the controversial illegal pitch.
Alvarez, the Loyola Marymount-bound catcher, came to bat in the third inning with one out. Torrance pitcher Jessica Moon got Alvarez to ground out to the shortstop, but her pitch was ruled illegal and Alvarez returned to the batter's box. Three pitchers later, she ripped a home run over the left-field fence to give the Saxons a 1-0 lead.
According to Moon and Torrance Coach Don Glavich, the reason the umpire ruled her pitch illegal was because Moon stepped off the rubber too soon. According to others, however, it was because Moon threw dirt on the ball.
"It had to happen for a reason," said Alvarez, who was in tears while celebrating her school's first section title in softball. "To get thrown out and say it was an illegal pitch and hit a home run.... like, that's just unbelievable."
Said Moon (13-1), who pitched a four-hitter: "In the end, it hit us hard.... That's one of the reasons we lost the game."
Danielle Castro (9-5) also allowed only four hits and had five strikeouts.
--Jaime Cardenas
Torrance 000 100 0 - 1-4-2
North Torrance 001 000 1 - 2-4-0 Castro and Alvarez; Je. Moon and Jamie Moon. W-Castro (9-5). L-Je. Moon (13-1). HR- NT: Alvarez.
T: 28-5; NT: 24-10
Friday, May 30, 2008
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION II
Championship
El Modena 12, Glendora 4
El Modena started and ended with a bang, and when the Vanguards were done, they had a championship and a share of a section record.
El Modena scored five runs in the first inning and added three more in the seventh on its way to the championship.
The game at Barber Park in Irvine lasted nearly three hours and featured 21 hits, seven errors and 19 runners left on base.
El Modena (25-8-2) tied the scoring record set by Santa Maria St. Joseph in its 12-2 victory over Ontario Christian in the 1982 Division 1-A title game.
The record for total runs in a championship game is 20, which might have been challenged if Glendora (20-10) could have mustered a big hit. It couldn't. It loaded the bases in the first and third innings but stranded a total of 11 runners.
It's the first title in three appearances for El Modena, which lost in 2001 and 2002. It was the first championship game appearance for Glendora, which upset second-seeded Etiwanda in the second round and was a heavy underdog after successive victories over Vista Murrieta and Garden Grove Pacifica. The Tartans committed five errors Friday night.
The offensive carnage could have been much worse.
El Modena stranded eight runners, had another thrown out at home, another picked off trying steal third with a 7-0 lead.
"I never felt, until the end, the game was in the bag," said El Modena Coach Steve Harrington, whose team beat top-seeded La Palma Kennedy with an eighth-inning walk-off home run in a Tuesday semifinal. "They're scrappy, and I'm very fortunate to have a team that has a lot of fight in it."
El Modena put it in the bag in the seventh when it scored thee runs, two on Kylie Wagner's single off the first baseman, another on Emily McEwen's fourth hit.
Wagner (20-3), the winning pitcher, had four RBIs including her two-run homer in the first inning. McEwen, who followed Wagner's line-drive home run to right field with a towering shot to left field, was four for five with three RBIs.
El Modena ended the season winning 10 of its last 11. The only blip was a tie with Valencia, the Division I finalist that plays Simi Valley for the title at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Glendora should have better days ahead. Its key players are underclassmen, and it started only three seniors in the championship, one more than its usual lineup.
-- Martin Henderson
El Modena 520 020 3 - 12-13-2 Glendora 020 101 0 - 4-8-5
Wagner and Taylor; Waldusky, Ferrari (2) and Dworak. W-Wagner (20-3). L-Waldusky (14-5). HR-EM: Wagner, McEwen.
El Modena 25-8-2 Glendora 20-10
DIVISION III
Whittier La Serna 5, Menifee Paloma Valley 1
As pitcher-catcher combinations go, it would be tough to top the performance of La Serna's duo on Friday.
Holly Consterdine scattered six hits and her catcher, Ashley Holmes, hit a two-run home run to lift the Lancers to their third section championship.
Consterdine (16-3), who pitched a four-hitter in the semifinals against unbeaten and top-seeded Crescenta Valley, was in control throughout and, with five runs, enjoyed a wealth of riches.
Paloma Valley (23-9) finally broke through with a run in the top of the seventh inning. By that time the outcome appeared academic.
"It took a lot of pressure off me," Consterdine said of the quick two-run lead courtesy Holmes' two-out, first-inning blast to left field.
Consterdine, the No. 3 batter, blooped a single inside the right-field line. Then Holmes hit a home run well beyond the left-field fence.
"I wasn't real happy, I'm not going to lie," said losing pitcher A.J. Woodward (17-4), who will attend Midland College, a junior college in Midland, Texas, in the fall. "It was a rise ball. But if you don't score more than two runs, you don't deserve to win."
La Serna struck again in the fifth inning on a walk and single, and with two outs, Consterdine's second blooper to the same spot down the right-field line that drove in one run. Brooke Putich, who had singled, scored during a rundown on an error by the third baseman. Holmes lined a single off the third baseman for her second hit, third RBI and the final run.
It wasn't until then that Consterdine and Holmes said they felt comfortable.
Consterdine, who signed with Long Beach State but will likely attend a junior college in the fall, struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter
"Holly was on her game today," said Holmes, a sophomore batting .439. "Her screwball and changeup were working. Today was definitely her best day. She's a good pitcher normally, but today she was absolutely perfect."
Woodward actually gave up fewer hits, six, walked one and struck out four.
"I have nine seniors, and half of them have been four-year varsity players," said Ginger Larsin, who coached La Serna to championships in 1996 and 2001. "I'm really close to this group. They've been to the semis twice, the quarterfinals and the finals."
Paloma Valley, in its first title game, may have been the most unlikely finalist of the playoffs. The program had never advanced beyond the first round.
The Sunbelt League champion won its first-round game, 2-1, in 12 innings on a two-out two-run error against Bloomington. It beat Laguna Hills in the quarterfinals, 2-1, when umpires reversed their decision on a game-tying fly ball in the sixth inning.
"No one at Paloma had ever made it past the first round," Woodward said. "For us to get this far is phenomenal."
-- Martin Henderson
Paloma Valley 000 000 1 – 1-7-1 La Serna 200 030 x – 5-6-0
Woodward and Monk; Consterdine and Holmes. W-Conserdine (16-3). L-Woodward (17-4). 2B-PV: Blanco. HR-LS: Holmes. Records PV (23-8); LS (27-4).
DIVISION VI
Championship
Riverside Christian 2, Calvary Murrieta 1 A near perfect season had a perfect ending Friday for top-seeded Riverside Christian, which scored twice in the first inning and rode the pitching of Asia Alvarez (16-0), who retired the first 10 batters and got solid defense behind her. She finished with a four-hitter, struck out six and walked two. The only base-runners she allowed were after two outs were made in the inning.
"I was on top of my game," said Alvarez, a sophomore. "I spent all day telling people I was going to throw up. I've never felt so nervous. This game meant everything to me."
Said Coach Art Lilly: "Asia hit almost every spot I asked her to."
The game matched the first- and second-place teams from the Big Sky League. It was the third time Riverside Christian (26-1) beat second-seeded Calvary Chapel (23-9-1) this season.
Calvary Chapel was in the finals for the third year in a row. It beat Riverside Christian last year, 1-0, behind Tory Ferreira's one-hitter. Ferreira (23-9), a Cal Baptist recruit, was the losing pitcher on Friday after allowing five hits. She hit two batters, and her team committed three errors. She finished her career with 94 victories, tied for fifth in state history..
Alvarez got all the run support she needed in the first inning as, according to the losing coach, Oscar Sanchez, the Cougars took advantage of Calvary Chapel's big-game jitters. An error, a hit batter and Sterling Hoham's double to left-center field accounted for the first run. A botched squeeze with a failed pickoff attempt allowed Amanda Clark to score the second run.
"I just wanted to hit the ball hard," said Hoham, a shortstop who transferred from Temecula Chaparral and signed with Long Island University.
It's the second section title for Riverside Christian, which also won in 2003.
Calvary Chapel, in its third consecutive championship game, scored in the fifth inning on three consecutive singles, the last by leadoff batter Anita Green, scoring Danielle Hatt. Alvarez got out of the inning by inducing a ground ball to second base.
-- Martin Henderson
Calvary Murrieta 000 010 0 -- 1-4-3 Riverside Christian 200 000 x – 2-5-0
Ferreira and Ritchie; Alvarez and Clark. WP-Alvarez (16-0). L-Ferreira (23-9). 2B-RC: S. Hoham. Records – CM (23-9-1); RC (26-1).
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION I
Semifinal
Simi Valley 1, Norco 0
Can't imagine Simi Valley's Tawny Reeger thought her never-say-die approach to the game, her all-out hustle, would have such a major impact during Tuesday's Southern Section-Toyota playoff showdown against visiting Norco at Rancho Santa Susana Park. But it did.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Reeger turned what appeared to be a routine pop out into a single after colliding with Kim Pena at first base, and then, the senior came around to score the lone run of the game as the top-seeded Pioneers held on for the victory.
"It was one of those bang, bang plays,'' said Reeger. "I was determined to run out the play, the way I was taught. I guess I didn't see (Pena) coming and ended up getting the wind knocked out of me. But I made sure to reach out and touch first base. If I wasn't safe, if the umpire would have called me out, I bet that play would've hurt.''
After picking herself up off the ground and regaining some composure while dusting off her uniform, Reeger moved to second on a Haley Thomas single and gave Simi Valley (30-0) the lead on an Ali Mapes basehit. The Pioneers advance to Saturday's title game against Valencia (28-5-1).
"Once Tawny gave us that spark all I wanted was an opportunity to step for my teammates,'' Mapes said. "I wasn't nervous when I was up at the plate. Instincts took over. Growing up, you always dream about being in a situation like that, with a chance to win the game.''
Amanda Oliveto did her best to keep Simi Valley close throughout. She struck out five batters in the first two innings. The sophomore finished with a six-hitter and nine strikeouts and had plenty of help behind her, courtesy of a defense that came with up some timely web gems.
The Cougars threatened in the third inning, loading the bases with one out. But Amber Olive made a nice running catch in right field and Brianna Stephan robbed Vanessa Viloria of an RBI, perhaps as many as two, with a diving catch in left to essentially demoralize Norco's hopes.
Viloria singled to lead off the sixth inning, advanced to second base with two outs but was tagged out by shortstop Sam Fischer while trying to advance to third to kill the rally. Fittingly enough, Reeger was in the right place at the right time, snaring a Brianna Smith liner to second base for the game's final out.
Oliveto's counterpart, Teagan Gerhart, pitched well against a loaded Simi Valley lineup. The junior ended up scattering eight hits and striking out six in a complete-game effort. Pena reached base in all four plate appearances for the Cougars (29-6).
-- Sean Ceglinsky
Valencia 3, Corona Santiago 2
DIVISION II
Semifinal
El Modena 4, La Palma Kennedy 3 (8 innings)
Freshman Devin Vanderhoff hit a home run off reliever Ashley Hewitt with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning as El Modena (21-8-2) knocked off top-seeded Kennedy (29-4).
El Modena rallied from a 3-0 deficit after 2 1/2 innings to advance to the finals for the first time since 2002.
--Martin Henderson
Glendora 3, Garden Grove Pacifica 1
DIVISION III
Semifinal
La Serna 3, Crescenta Valley 2
Monday, May 26, 2008
DIVISION IV
Semifinals
Ocean View 6, Pomona Catholic 1
Bishop Amat 7, Downey 4
DIVISION V
Semifinal
Torrance 3, San Dimas 1 (15 innings)
Jessica Moon struck out 15 in a complete game, scattering 10 hits, to earn the win for Torrance (28-4) in the victory over host San Dimas (20-9).
North Torrance 3, El Segundo 2
DIVISION VII
Semifinals
Viewpoint 10, Victor Valley Christian 0
Michelle Lesser tossed a three-hitter, striking out 11, and Brooke Berka went two for four with a double for Viewpoint (18-5) in the victory over host Victor Valley Christian.
Faith Baptist 3, Baptist Christian 0
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION I
Simi Valley 8, Esperanza 4
DIVISION III
Quarterfinal
Cajon 4, Rancho Alamitos 3 (9 innings, completion of suspended game)
The Cowgirls (23-6) advanced to Tuesday's semifinals, picking up a victory in a game that had started four days earlier.
Thursday's game was suspended in the eighth inning after rain and hail hit San Bernardino.
Monday, Cajon broke the 3-3 deadlock in the ninth when Terilyn Baude hit a two-out single, and Breja'e Washington followed with her fourth hit of the game. Washington's single to left was mishandled, allowing pinch-runner Alene Casillas to score from first base.
Paloma Valley 2, Laguna Hills 1
A controversial call in the top of the sixth inning wiped out a Laguna Hills run and sent Paloma Valley (22-8) to the semifinals against Cajon.
Laguna Hills (22-7-1) scored on Christine Gomez's sacrifice fly as runners moved up to second and third bases. Kylee Lahners scored on a ball apparently hit into foul territory in left field when the ball was thrown poorly to the the plate. However, at the request of center fielder Kylene Hopkins, umpires conferred and after a few minutes Lahners was called out for leaving too early for the third out of the inning.
Laguna Hills had three hits in the seventh inning, but Hopkins threw out Kelley Schroeder at home. Schroeder's would have been the tying run.
Laguna Hills had a runner at third base in five of the seven innings.
Hopkins, who had two hits, led off the first inning with a double and eventually scored the first of two runs in the inning for Paloma Valley, which had four of its seven hits in the first inning.
-- Martin Henderson
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION I
Valencia 3, Simi Valley 0
When Valencia won its first softball championship a year ago, it had a dominant pitcher named Jordan Taylor and was the top-ranked team in the nation.
On Saturday, Valencia went back-to-back by beating the top-ranked team in the nation.
Behind the pitching of Jessica Spigner and ample production from the bottom of the batting order, third-seeded Valencia beat top-seeded Simi Valley, 3-0, to win the Southern Section-Toyota Division I championship at Barber Park.
Simi Valley (30-1), the 1993 champion, was trying to become the section's first unbeaten, untied team since Ocean View went 32-0 in 1985.
The Pioneers assumed the No. 1 position nationally on Friday in the StudentSports.com ranking. Valencia (29-5-1), ranked No. 14, was last year's national No. 1 wire-to-wire behind Taylor, the Times player of the year.
"When the game was over, we had a great season," said Simi Valley Coach Russ Michael. "You can't take that away from us."
Valencia, in its third final in four years, lost only once last season, in a game Taylor did not pitch. With this victory, it is only the third section team to repeat as a large school champion.
Spigner, a Tennessee-bound third baseman forced into pitching duty this season because of Taylor's graduation to Michigan, was splendid. She allowed four hits, only one through the first five innings. With only three strikeouts, the Viking defense was outstanding and didn't commit an error.
"We worked our whole year for this moment," said Spigner (29-5), who singled and walked three times. Her courtesy runner also scored. "There were a lot of doubters this year, thinking we were no competition, and we used that as motivation. We worked every day to get on top, and we made it. I couldn't be more proud of my team."
Valencia had runners in scoring position in each of the six innings it batted. It left 10 runners on base.
The bottom four batters in the order were collectively five for 11. The No. 8 hitter, Shannon Fitzgerald, scored two runs, in the second and fourth innings, and No. 9 hitter Alyssa Garza was two-for-two with an RBI in the first and a sacrifice bunt in the fourth-inning rally. Freshman Bethany Kemp, the No. 6 batter, had an RBI double in the fifth inning.
"They came up big, they stepped up and did a great job," said Valencia Coach Donna Lee, who also got an RBI single from leadoff batter Madison Shipman.
Valencia had eight of its 10 hits against sophomore starter Amanda Oliveto (13-1), who was charged with all three runs in 4 2/3 innings and hit as hard as she has been all season.
Michael said he thought championship experience was the difference, and Lee agreed.
"The girls felt no pressure at all," she said, referring to the many big games that it played not only this year, but in the past. "It's easy coming in as an underdog. When you're the person that's supposed to win, it's a lot tougher."
--Martin Henderson
Simi Valley 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Valencia 010 110 x – 3 9 0
Oliveto, Killingsworth (5) and DeFlavio; Spigner and Moore. W-Spigner (29-5). L-Oliveto (13-1). 2B-V: Kemp.
Records: SV (30-1); V (29-5-1).
DIVISION VI
Championship
Viewpoint 2, Faith Baptist 1
The long and short of softball played into the decisive run Saturday in top-seeded Viewpoint's 2-1 victory over second-seeded Faith Baptist in the Southern Section-Toyota Division VII championship at Barber Park.
Michelle Lesser tripled to the gap in right centerfield with one out in the bottom of the sixth. Brooke Berka drew an intentional walk, and she promptly stole second base.
Then, on a 1-2 pitch, sophomore Kelsey Kaplan hit what amounted to a check-swing bunt to first base and Lesser easily scored ahead of the throw.
"I was just trying to put the ball in play on the right side of the field," said Kaplan, who is in her first season of playing softball.
Trying to score was never a question for Lesser. "In that situation, tied, we had nothing to lose," she said. "I woiuld have een questioned if I didn't do it."
Kaplan said Lesser's hit against losing pitcher Trinity Cuff (11-6) meant everything emotionally.
"When that ball was hit for a triple, there was fire coming out of our dugout," she said.
Lesser's run broke a 1-1 tie, and after two pop-ups to shortstop and a line out to first base in the seventh inning, it gave Viewpoint its first championship.
Lesser pitched a one-hitter and struck out two. She retired the first seven batters she faced, and the last eight.
"I liked how I pitched," said Lesser (12-4), a junior was hard on herself for walking three batters.
The hit that she allowed – after a walk and error -- was an infield single to second base by Cherith Simmons that scored Faith Baptist's only run in the third inning.
It was the fourth section title of the season for the Viewpoint, but the first softball title. It came in the Patriots' first championship appearance.
Defending champion Faith Baptist (20-6) shared the Liberty League title with Viewpoint (19-5). Faith Baptist was trying to win its third softball title. The Contenders certainly gave a good account of themselves.
Cuff, the losing pitcher, allowed only two hits, Lesser's and a leadoff single to Brooke Berka in the second inning. Berka took third base on a two-out error, and scored on another error.
It's the second time she pitched a two-hitter against Viewpoint. She did the same thing on April 9, a 3-0 victory. She allowed only four hits in a 3-1 loss; one of those hits was a home run to Lesser.
--Martin Henderson
Faith Baptist 001 000 0 – 1-1-3
Viewpoint 010 001 x – 2-2-1
Cuff and Simmons; Lesser and Hodgson. W- Lesser (12-4). L- Cuff (11-6). 2B- V: Br. Berka. 3B- V: Lesser.
Records: Faith Bapist 20-6; Viewpoint 19-5.
DIVISION IV
Championship
Ocean View 8, Bishop Amat 3
For the first time since going unbeaten in 1985, Ocean View found itself in a section championship game.
The fourth-seeded Seahawks didn't waste the opportunity either. They did take their sweet time though, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the sixth inning of the Division IV title game.
It completed a near-perfect season for Ocean View (28-1), whose only other appearance in a title game came 23 years ago, a 2-0 victory over Westminster in Division 4-A. That Seahawk team, with pitcher Jackie Oakley and coached by her mother, Sarah Oakley, finished 32-0.
The defining moment Saturday was a grand slam by Brandice Cutspec, a junior third baseman whose third homer of the season was as big as they come.
"I was just hoping to get a nice hit to get us a run," said Cutspec, No. 7 in the batting order. "To get a grand slam was very unexpected."
To that point, it appeared Ocean View pitcher Holli Floetker was going to dominate Bishop Amat – and lose. She finished with a five-hitter and struck out 10. However, she had a no-hitter through five innings and a two-hitter through six, but trailed, 2-0.
Bishop Amat (22-9) scored its first run, in the fourth inning, without a hit. Erika Gonzalez scored on a double steal. Two hits and an error allowed Gonzalez to score the second run, in the sixth.
"I was going to be pretty upset if I threw a two-hit championship game and lost," said Floetker (18-1), a 6-foot right-hander who once this season struck out 22 in a 13-inning game against Segerstrom.
Bishop Amat kept getting out of trouble behind pitcher Amy Lwin (18-9) as Ocean View (28-1) stranded a runner in each of the first five innings.
But in the sixth, an error off Lwin's glove, two singles and another error cut the deficit to 2-1. Then Cutspec hammered a Lwin pitch well over the fence in left-center field for a 5-2 lead.
Lwin departed, but Ocean View was no kinder to Ariel Whiteman, rallying for three more runs on four hits.
"I was thinking it was just a matter of time, we kept getting opportunities," said Ocean View Coach Randy Cruz. "We came back in a lot of games this season."
The inning included eight runs, seven hits, two errors, a wild pitch and a passed ball.
The eight runs was the most Bishop Amat had allowed in the four seasons Walt Martin has been coach.
"We kept making plays, working magic and dodging bullets, and then it just got away from us in that one inning," Martin said. "If that right fielder doesn't make that play to end the game, we have our best hitter, Jessica Traxler, coming to the plate as the tying run."
Bishop Amat, trying to win its first title in three tries, threatened in the seventh. Two hits, a fielder's choice and a bases-loaded walk scored one run, but Sara Craig made a diving catch along the right field line to end the game.
--Martin Henderson
Bishop Amat 000 101 1 – 3-5-3
Ocean View 000 008 x – 8-10-2
Lwin, Whiteman (6) and Carlin; Floetker and Afusia. W-Floetker (18-1). L-Lwin (18-9). 2B-OV: Hitchcock. HR-OV: Cutspec.
Records: BA 22-9; OV 28-1.
DIVISION V
Championship
North Torrance 2, Torrance 1
In golf it's called a mulligan. On the school yard, it's a do-over. In softball? Let's just call it an illegal pitch.
What ever the name, North Torrance's Olivia Alvarez took full-advantage of her second chance and hit a solo home run that helped the Saxons win the division title at Barber Park.
Third-seeded North Torrance (24-10), which lost twice during the Pioneer League season to top-seeded Torrance (28-5), scored the winning run in the bottom of the seventh inning on a one-out infield single by sophomore Sammy Alvillar, who also drove in North's winning run in a semifinal victory over El Segundo.
But the play of the game was the controversial illegal pitch.
Alvarez, the Loyola Marymount-bound catcher, came to bat in the third inning with one out. Torrance pitcher Jessica Moon got Alvarez to ground out to the shortstop, but her pitch was ruled illegal and Alvarez returned to the batter's box. Three pitchers later, she ripped a home run over the left-field fence to give the Saxons a 1-0 lead.
According to Moon and Torrance Coach Don Glavich, the reason the umpire ruled her pitch illegal was because Moon stepped off the rubber too soon. According to others, however, it was because Moon threw dirt on the ball.
"It had to happen for a reason," said Alvarez, who was in tears while celebrating her school's first section title in softball. "To get thrown out and say it was an illegal pitch and hit a home run.... like, that's just unbelievable."
Said Moon (13-1), who pitched a four-hitter: "In the end, it hit us hard.... That's one of the reasons we lost the game."
Danielle Castro (9-5) also allowed only four hits and had five strikeouts.
--Jaime Cardenas
Torrance 000 100 0 - 1-4-2
North Torrance 001 000 1 - 2-4-0 Castro and Alvarez; Je. Moon and Jamie Moon. W-Castro (9-5). L-Je. Moon (13-1). HR- NT: Alvarez.
T: 28-5; NT: 24-10
Friday, May 30, 2008
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION II
Championship
El Modena 12, Glendora 4
El Modena started and ended with a bang, and when the Vanguards were done, they had a championship and a share of a section record.
El Modena scored five runs in the first inning and added three more in the seventh on its way to the championship.
The game at Barber Park in Irvine lasted nearly three hours and featured 21 hits, seven errors and 19 runners left on base.
El Modena (25-8-2) tied the scoring record set by Santa Maria St. Joseph in its 12-2 victory over Ontario Christian in the 1982 Division 1-A title game.
The record for total runs in a championship game is 20, which might have been challenged if Glendora (20-10) could have mustered a big hit. It couldn't. It loaded the bases in the first and third innings but stranded a total of 11 runners.
It's the first title in three appearances for El Modena, which lost in 2001 and 2002. It was the first championship game appearance for Glendora, which upset second-seeded Etiwanda in the second round and was a heavy underdog after successive victories over Vista Murrieta and Garden Grove Pacifica. The Tartans committed five errors Friday night.
The offensive carnage could have been much worse.
El Modena stranded eight runners, had another thrown out at home, another picked off trying steal third with a 7-0 lead.
"I never felt, until the end, the game was in the bag," said El Modena Coach Steve Harrington, whose team beat top-seeded La Palma Kennedy with an eighth-inning walk-off home run in a Tuesday semifinal. "They're scrappy, and I'm very fortunate to have a team that has a lot of fight in it."
El Modena put it in the bag in the seventh when it scored thee runs, two on Kylie Wagner's single off the first baseman, another on Emily McEwen's fourth hit.
Wagner (20-3), the winning pitcher, had four RBIs including her two-run homer in the first inning. McEwen, who followed Wagner's line-drive home run to right field with a towering shot to left field, was four for five with three RBIs.
El Modena ended the season winning 10 of its last 11. The only blip was a tie with Valencia, the Division I finalist that plays Simi Valley for the title at 6 p.m. Saturday.
Glendora should have better days ahead. Its key players are underclassmen, and it started only three seniors in the championship, one more than its usual lineup.
-- Martin Henderson
El Modena 520 020 3 - 12-13-2 Glendora 020 101 0 - 4-8-5
Wagner and Taylor; Waldusky, Ferrari (2) and Dworak. W-Wagner (20-3). L-Waldusky (14-5). HR-EM: Wagner, McEwen.
El Modena 25-8-2 Glendora 20-10
DIVISION III
Whittier La Serna 5, Menifee Paloma Valley 1
As pitcher-catcher combinations go, it would be tough to top the performance of La Serna's duo on Friday.
Holly Consterdine scattered six hits and her catcher, Ashley Holmes, hit a two-run home run to lift the Lancers to their third section championship.
Consterdine (16-3), who pitched a four-hitter in the semifinals against unbeaten and top-seeded Crescenta Valley, was in control throughout and, with five runs, enjoyed a wealth of riches.
Paloma Valley (23-9) finally broke through with a run in the top of the seventh inning. By that time the outcome appeared academic.
"It took a lot of pressure off me," Consterdine said of the quick two-run lead courtesy Holmes' two-out, first-inning blast to left field.
Consterdine, the No. 3 batter, blooped a single inside the right-field line. Then Holmes hit a home run well beyond the left-field fence.
"I wasn't real happy, I'm not going to lie," said losing pitcher A.J. Woodward (17-4), who will attend Midland College, a junior college in Midland, Texas, in the fall. "It was a rise ball. But if you don't score more than two runs, you don't deserve to win."
La Serna struck again in the fifth inning on a walk and single, and with two outs, Consterdine's second blooper to the same spot down the right-field line that drove in one run. Brooke Putich, who had singled, scored during a rundown on an error by the third baseman. Holmes lined a single off the third baseman for her second hit, third RBI and the final run.
It wasn't until then that Consterdine and Holmes said they felt comfortable.
Consterdine, who signed with Long Beach State but will likely attend a junior college in the fall, struck out 10 and didn't walk a batter
"Holly was on her game today," said Holmes, a sophomore batting .439. "Her screwball and changeup were working. Today was definitely her best day. She's a good pitcher normally, but today she was absolutely perfect."
Woodward actually gave up fewer hits, six, walked one and struck out four.
"I have nine seniors, and half of them have been four-year varsity players," said Ginger Larsin, who coached La Serna to championships in 1996 and 2001. "I'm really close to this group. They've been to the semis twice, the quarterfinals and the finals."
Paloma Valley, in its first title game, may have been the most unlikely finalist of the playoffs. The program had never advanced beyond the first round.
The Sunbelt League champion won its first-round game, 2-1, in 12 innings on a two-out two-run error against Bloomington. It beat Laguna Hills in the quarterfinals, 2-1, when umpires reversed their decision on a game-tying fly ball in the sixth inning.
"No one at Paloma had ever made it past the first round," Woodward said. "For us to get this far is phenomenal."
-- Martin Henderson
Paloma Valley 000 000 1 – 1-7-1 La Serna 200 030 x – 5-6-0
Woodward and Monk; Consterdine and Holmes. W-Conserdine (16-3). L-Woodward (17-4). 2B-PV: Blanco. HR-LS: Holmes. Records PV (23-8); LS (27-4).
DIVISION VI
Championship
Riverside Christian 2, Calvary Murrieta 1 A near perfect season had a perfect ending Friday for top-seeded Riverside Christian, which scored twice in the first inning and rode the pitching of Asia Alvarez (16-0), who retired the first 10 batters and got solid defense behind her. She finished with a four-hitter, struck out six and walked two. The only base-runners she allowed were after two outs were made in the inning.
"I was on top of my game," said Alvarez, a sophomore. "I spent all day telling people I was going to throw up. I've never felt so nervous. This game meant everything to me."
Said Coach Art Lilly: "Asia hit almost every spot I asked her to."
The game matched the first- and second-place teams from the Big Sky League. It was the third time Riverside Christian (26-1) beat second-seeded Calvary Chapel (23-9-1) this season.
Calvary Chapel was in the finals for the third year in a row. It beat Riverside Christian last year, 1-0, behind Tory Ferreira's one-hitter. Ferreira (23-9), a Cal Baptist recruit, was the losing pitcher on Friday after allowing five hits. She hit two batters, and her team committed three errors. She finished her career with 94 victories, tied for fifth in state history..
Alvarez got all the run support she needed in the first inning as, according to the losing coach, Oscar Sanchez, the Cougars took advantage of Calvary Chapel's big-game jitters. An error, a hit batter and Sterling Hoham's double to left-center field accounted for the first run. A botched squeeze with a failed pickoff attempt allowed Amanda Clark to score the second run.
"I just wanted to hit the ball hard," said Hoham, a shortstop who transferred from Temecula Chaparral and signed with Long Island University.
It's the second section title for Riverside Christian, which also won in 2003.
Calvary Chapel, in its third consecutive championship game, scored in the fifth inning on three consecutive singles, the last by leadoff batter Anita Green, scoring Danielle Hatt. Alvarez got out of the inning by inducing a ground ball to second base.
-- Martin Henderson
Calvary Murrieta 000 010 0 -- 1-4-3 Riverside Christian 200 000 x – 2-5-0
Ferreira and Ritchie; Alvarez and Clark. WP-Alvarez (16-0). L-Ferreira (23-9). 2B-RC: S. Hoham. Records – CM (23-9-1); RC (26-1).
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION I
Semifinal
Simi Valley 1, Norco 0
Can't imagine Simi Valley's Tawny Reeger thought her never-say-die approach to the game, her all-out hustle, would have such a major impact during Tuesday's Southern Section-Toyota playoff showdown against visiting Norco at Rancho Santa Susana Park. But it did.
With two outs in the bottom of the fourth inning, Reeger turned what appeared to be a routine pop out into a single after colliding with Kim Pena at first base, and then, the senior came around to score the lone run of the game as the top-seeded Pioneers held on for the victory.
"It was one of those bang, bang plays,'' said Reeger. "I was determined to run out the play, the way I was taught. I guess I didn't see (Pena) coming and ended up getting the wind knocked out of me. But I made sure to reach out and touch first base. If I wasn't safe, if the umpire would have called me out, I bet that play would've hurt.''
After picking herself up off the ground and regaining some composure while dusting off her uniform, Reeger moved to second on a Haley Thomas single and gave Simi Valley (30-0) the lead on an Ali Mapes basehit. The Pioneers advance to Saturday's title game against Valencia (28-5-1).
"Once Tawny gave us that spark all I wanted was an opportunity to step for my teammates,'' Mapes said. "I wasn't nervous when I was up at the plate. Instincts took over. Growing up, you always dream about being in a situation like that, with a chance to win the game.''
Amanda Oliveto did her best to keep Simi Valley close throughout. She struck out five batters in the first two innings. The sophomore finished with a six-hitter and nine strikeouts and had plenty of help behind her, courtesy of a defense that came with up some timely web gems.
The Cougars threatened in the third inning, loading the bases with one out. But Amber Olive made a nice running catch in right field and Brianna Stephan robbed Vanessa Viloria of an RBI, perhaps as many as two, with a diving catch in left to essentially demoralize Norco's hopes.
Viloria singled to lead off the sixth inning, advanced to second base with two outs but was tagged out by shortstop Sam Fischer while trying to advance to third to kill the rally. Fittingly enough, Reeger was in the right place at the right time, snaring a Brianna Smith liner to second base for the game's final out.
Oliveto's counterpart, Teagan Gerhart, pitched well against a loaded Simi Valley lineup. The junior ended up scattering eight hits and striking out six in a complete-game effort. Pena reached base in all four plate appearances for the Cougars (29-6).
-- Sean Ceglinsky
Valencia 3, Corona Santiago 2
DIVISION II
Semifinal
El Modena 4, La Palma Kennedy 3 (8 innings)
Freshman Devin Vanderhoff hit a home run off reliever Ashley Hewitt with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning as El Modena (21-8-2) knocked off top-seeded Kennedy (29-4).
El Modena rallied from a 3-0 deficit after 2 1/2 innings to advance to the finals for the first time since 2002.
--Martin Henderson
Glendora 3, Garden Grove Pacifica 1
DIVISION III
Semifinal
La Serna 3, Crescenta Valley 2
Monday, May 26, 2008
DIVISION IV
Semifinals
Ocean View 6, Pomona Catholic 1
Bishop Amat 7, Downey 4
DIVISION V
Semifinal
Torrance 3, San Dimas 1 (15 innings)
Jessica Moon struck out 15 in a complete game, scattering 10 hits, to earn the win for Torrance (28-4) in the victory over host San Dimas (20-9).
North Torrance 3, El Segundo 2
DIVISION VII
Semifinals
Viewpoint 10, Victor Valley Christian 0
Michelle Lesser tossed a three-hitter, striking out 11, and Brooke Berka went two for four with a double for Viewpoint (18-5) in the victory over host Victor Valley Christian.
Faith Baptist 3, Baptist Christian 0
SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS
DIVISION I
Simi Valley 8, Esperanza 4
DIVISION III
Quarterfinal
Cajon 4, Rancho Alamitos 3 (9 innings, completion of suspended game)
The Cowgirls (23-6) advanced to Tuesday's semifinals, picking up a victory in a game that had started four days earlier.
Thursday's game was suspended in the eighth inning after rain and hail hit San Bernardino.
Monday, Cajon broke the 3-3 deadlock in the ninth when Terilyn Baude hit a two-out single, and Breja'e Washington followed with her fourth hit of the game. Washington's single to left was mishandled, allowing pinch-runner Alene Casillas to score from first base.
Paloma Valley 2, Laguna Hills 1
A controversial call in the top of the sixth inning wiped out a Laguna Hills run and sent Paloma Valley (22-8) to the semifinals against Cajon.
Laguna Hills (22-7-1) scored on Christine Gomez's sacrifice fly as runners moved up to second and third bases. Kylee Lahners scored on a ball apparently hit into foul territory in left field when the ball was thrown poorly to the the plate. However, at the request of center fielder Kylene Hopkins, umpires conferred and after a few minutes Lahners was called out for leaving too early for the third out of the inning.
Laguna Hills had three hits in the seventh inning, but Hopkins threw out Kelley Schroeder at home. Schroeder's would have been the tying run.
Laguna Hills had a runner at third base in five of the seven innings.
Hopkins, who had two hits, led off the first inning with a double and eventually scored the first of two runs in the inning for Paloma Valley, which had four of its seven hits in the first inning.
-- Martin Henderson
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