Southern Section Softball Playoffs : Okerlund Keeps Game Simple, 2-0

For Janis Okerlund of El Toro High School, pitching isn’t a science. She doesn’t worry about changing speeds or when to mix in a curve.

She just winds up and lets the ball go.

Okerlund threw fastball after fastball past Corona batters Tuesday in leading the Chargers to a 2-0 victory in a Southern Section 2-A semifinal softball game at Mission Viejo’s Alicia Park.

El Toro (23-5), champion of the South Coast League, will play Arroyo, a 2-1 winner over Charter Oak Tuesday, for the 2-A title Friday night at 6 at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

Okerlund, a senior who has accepted a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton, allowed only two hits and struck out seven in improving her record 10-3. The right-hander has not given up a run since the beginning of league play.

Jim Daugherty, El Toro coach, could have used Dawn Robertson (13-2) against the Panthers, but decided to use start Okerlund because Corona (23-3), champion of the Ivy League, had trouble against power pitchers this year.

“I didn’t think Corona had seen anyone the caliber of Janis, and I was right,” Daugherty said. “They looked real intimidated today.

“It’s hard to get used to Janis’ speed. You can crank your pitching machine up as high as you want, and you still won’t be prepared for her.”

El Toro got the only run it needed in the first inning. With one out, Gina Gardini got an infield single and took second on shortstop Shellie McCall’s throwing error. One out later, Gardini scored on an error by third baseman Elke Rosenbauer.

The Chargers earned their other run, which came in the fifth. Tanya McKinley walked and scored after singles by Ali Gibson, Gardini and Shawn Gallagher.

The inning came to a bizarre end when the Panthers turned a triple play. With the bases loaded, Karen Robertson hit a ground ball to Rosenbauer, who got a force by throwing to catcher Julie Vitale, who threw to first in time to get Robertson. First baseman Rene McCall then threw to second and caught Gallagher.

After allowing a first-inning single to Shellie McCall, Okerlund retired 14 straight before pinch-hitter Cheri Lara’s single in the sixth.

Sandy Mathis (15-2) pitched a complete game but took the loss for Corona. She allowed eight hits and struck out two.