Timing Is Right for San Fernando : North Hollywood Exits Softball Playoffs From the Slow Lane, 2-1

Competing in a City 4-A softball playoff game without an experienced pitcher is a lot like entering the Indy 500 in a Volkswagen.

Nevertheless, North Hollywood High Coach Kerry Redfield started sophomore pitcher Maia Sharp against San Fernando Wednesday at North Hollywood. Sharp, who pitched this year for the first time in her brief softball career, entered the game armed with a fastball in name only. But Redfield figured her off-speed delivery might baffle San Fernando.

“I’m sure it threw off the other team,” Redfield said. “If we had faster pitching, they would have sent it out to the asphalt every time.”

San Fernando, after adjusting to Sharp’s slow pitches in the late innings, defeated North Hollywood, 2-1, in a first-round playoff game. In the second round next Thursday, San Fernando plays Sylmar, a 5-0 winner on Wednesday.

Although San Fernando, ranked 13th in the 16-team playoffs, beat fourth-ranked North Hollywood, Tigers Coach Chris Fotis did not think it was an upset. San Fernando (10-6) placed fourth in the North Valley League, and North Hollywood (12-4) won the East Valley League.

“I feel there is an imbalance in the leagues,” Fotis said. “We play in a tougher league. I think we were on an equal level today.”

Scoreless through four innings, the game became a battle of the bats in the late inning. San Fernando scored first in the fifth inning. Stacey Markow tripled to right field and scored when Tony Cooper followed with a single.

North Hollywood’s Bianca Meunier, whose jersey says “Muscles” on the back, tied the game in the sixth inning with a home run to right field. The name on the uniform seems appropriate; it was Meunier’s fifth homer.

“Bianca hits three over the fence per day in batting practice,” Redfield said. “Then, I don’t let her hit anymore. I can’t afford any more balls.”

The Tigers won the game in the seventh inning on an odd play in front of the plate. Marina Galan walked to lead off the inning and moved to third on an error and a bunt single. She raced home with the game-winning run on Sandy Alcantar’s pop-up in front of the plate that eluded North Hollywood catcher Lisa Rood.

Alcantar made the two runs stand up, pitching a complete game with four strikeouts and four walks.

“We haven’t made the playoffs in a long time,” Alcantar said. “When we were hitting, we told ourselves we had to be patient and meet the ball.”

For the remainder of the playoffs, hitting will be the key, Redfield said.

“Most of the teams that continue on will have equal pitchers,” she said. “Teams like El Camino Real and Canoga Park have great pitchers. They’re going to win or lose based on hitting ability.”