Softball: Coach was right, and La Sierra was right on

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

La Sierra Coach Sheri Lazzarini said earlier this week that she thought her team was ready for the playoffs. Personally, I thought it was ripe for an early exit since it was facing Westlake’s Stanford-bound pitcher, Jenna Becerra, who spent much of this season injured.

It turned out that Lazzarini was right about her team, which got only two hits but scored two unearned runs to beat visiting Westlake, 2-0, on Friday in the first round of the Southern Section-Toyota Division I playoffs.

Two weeks ago, La Sierra (23-5) had lost to last-place Ramona, 3-1. It had lost three nonleague games early in the season to Miller, Chaparral and Redlands by a combined 23-14. One of those was 11-10 to Miller. There was also the obligatory loss to perennial Ivy League power Riverside Poly, 1-0, in one of their three games against each other.

‘We could be respectable if we come out and play our game,’ Lazzarini said. ‘It depends on if the girls are ready to play.

‘The thing we might struggle with is we finished league against the fourth- and sixth-place teams.’

After a loss to sixth-place Ramona, La Sierra avenged it three days later, 1-0. Still, I questioned whether La Sierra was really, truly ready.

‘We lost, and that was good because they realize we have to step up and play consistently,’ Lazzarini said. ‘I think they’re ready for the playoffs. I think they’re ready for what they need to do.’

Apparently, she was right.

With its victory over Westlake (14-13), La Sierra will play Tuesday against Esperanza (21-6-2), a 6-3 winner over Orange Lutheran. No doubt, San Bernardino-bound pitcher Courtney Wilhelms, Indiana-bound center fielder Heather Nielson and the other two seniors counted on for leadership will need to be on their games.

I’m sure the coach believes they will. And who am I to disagree?

-- Martin Henderson