Softball: “Faster to First” in name and quality

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You sure have to admire the job done by Lance Eddy, the co-head coach at Anaheim Canyon. In his first attempt to put together a national-type tournament, he, Dan Hay and Brentt Eads brought together a 26-team field that rivals -- or exceeds -- what has largely been accepted as the gold standard through the years.

The Nike Faster to First tournament that begins Thursday at Huntington Beach Sports Complex is better than the annual gathering in Bullhead City, Ariz.

Consider that teams ranked 1, 2 and 8 in the StudentSports.com preseason Fab 50 national ranking could win on Thursday and be in pool play with each other to get into the quarterfinals.

That will happen if La Palma Kennedy, Corona Santiago and Phoenix St. Mary’s win games Thursday. Kennedy and Santiago are 1-2 in the nation and would play at 3:30 p.m. Friday.

In all, 14 participating tournament teams are on that Fab 50 list, 10 are among the top 23.

Advancing won’t be a cakewalk for those at the top of the list. Kennedy must get past Ayala, whose Jessica Hall has struck out 54 in 36 1/3 innings; Santiago must beat No. 14 Sierra Vista (Ariz.) Buena, and St. Mary’s must beat No. 21 Sparks (Nev.) Spanish Springs.

Other top games Thursday are No. 12 Hart vs. No. 19 Pembroke Pines (Fla.), No. 16 Norco vs. No. 23 Hollister San Benito and No. 4 Sacramento Sheldon vs. No. 44 Peoria (Ariz.) Centennial.

Other tournament teams in The Times top 25 ranking include No. 10 El Toro vs. No. 13 Vista Murrieta, and No. 17 Anaheim Canyon vs. No. 24 Camarillo.

Semifinals are Saturday at 1 p.m., with the championship at 7:15 p.m.

-- Martin Henderson