Southern Section Softball : Sunset Could Appear Twice in the 4-A Final

There is going to be an Orange County team in the Southern Section 4-A softball final for the ninth straight year. That much has already been decided.

And there could be a Sunset League team--or even two--in the championship game for the fourth straight year. That depends on the fortunes of league champion Marina and fourth-place Ocean View, which play in separate semifinal games today.

Semifinal games in all divisions are being played today, with finals set for Saturday and Sunday.

In the game that guarantees an Orange County team in the 4-A title game, Marina (19-6) plays Cypress (20-8) at Arnold Park in Cypress in a battle of pitchers--Cypress’ Nicky Luce and Marina’s Christy Larsen.

The Sunset League’s other chance at the championship game comes with Ocean View (16-11), which made the playoffs as an at-large team, facing Thousand Oaks (22-8), the Marmonte League’s third-place team, at Borchard Park (Newberry Park). Ocean View won the 4-A title in 1985.

Susan Calderon, Marina coach, is pulling for the league to make a showing.

“If by chance we don’t make it, maybe they will,” Calderon said. “I know some people are upset that Ocean View got in, but they deserve it. They’ve beaten some top teams.”

Fountain Valley of the Sunset League lost to St. Joseph in the 1986 4-A final.

In other divisional semifinals:

3-A

Valencia (22-7) vs. Diamond Bar (17-5) at Walnut High School--After her team lost to Valencia in the quarterfinals, Garden Grove Coach Paula Cervantes predicted that Valencia would advance to the final with no trouble. All that stands in the way of junior pitching phenomenon Michele Granger and the other Tigers now is Diamond Bar, a team that finished the regular season at 14-5 and in second place in the Sierra League.

Sunny Hills (26-5) vs. Charter Oak (26-2) at Cal State Fullerton--The second-seeded Lancers are the only remaining seeded team in the 3-A playoffs. Sunny Hills is led by pitcher Ruby Flores and shortstop Catherine Steadman, who next fall will attend Texas A&M;, which won the NCAA softball championship in May.

2-A

Woodbridge (21-6) vs. La Serna (23-0) at La Mirada--Woodbridge pitcher Tiffany Boyd will try for a record-tying fifth consecutive no-hitter when the fourth-seeded Warriors play top-seeded and undefeated La Serna at La Mirada. Boyd pitched a no-hitter in the final game of the regular season and has not allowed a hit in three playoff victories against St. Anthony’s, Mission Viejo and Canyon Country Canyon.

A no-hitter today would tie the record of five consecutive set by Monica Messmer of West Covina South Hills High School in 1983. Boyd’s fourth straight no-hitter put her in a tie for second with Valencia’s Michele Granger, who pitched four consecutive no-hitters earlier this season.

Woodbridge made it to the final game last season, losing to Crescenta Valley, 5-4, in 8 innings.

Laguna Hills (23-6) vs. Corona (22-4) at Norco High School--The second-seeded Hawks are led by pitcher Dawn Roberts, second baseman Erica Ziencina and sophomore catcher Shelley Carey, who hit .432 during the regular season. Both Roberts and Ziencina, who has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, had batting averages greater than .300 during the regular season.