Softball: It wasn’t unique, but it was certainly different

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One thing you could say about this year’s Michelle Carew Classic, hosted by Anaheim Canyon, is that it was different.

Maybe not unique, but definitely different.

Not a single team made it through the tournament without a loss, which may be a first. Champion Oceanside El Camino was beaten by El Toro in pool play and advanced to the semifinals by virtue of a run differential tie-breaker. It eventually beat Norco, 4-1, for the title.

This was not the first time in the 21-year history of the tournament that two teams from outside Orange

County contested for the championship. Diamond Bar defeated Corona in 1998. It also happened in 1997 when Corona defeated Corona Centennial, and 1989 when Lakewood St. Joseph beat Righetti.

Nor is El Camino the first team south of San Clemente to win, either. In the only other appearance in the title game by a San Diego Section team, Madison beat Fountain Valley in 1988.

-- Martin Henderson

-- Image from www.goingpostalt-shirts.com