Durable Pilkington Leads Cal Lutheran to NAIA District 3 Title

There was reason to wonder how long Cal Lutheran pitcher DeeAndra Pilkington’s fastball would retain its zip Saturday.

But after swinging at it unsuccessfully for 12 frustrating innings, the Cal Baptist College softball team might be the best judge of Pilkington’s velocity.

The sophomore right-hander threw a one-hitter in her second start of the afternoon as host Cal Lutheran defeated the Lady Lancers, 2-1, for the NAIA District 3 title.

Earlier, Pilkington threw a five-hit shutout in the Regals’ 10-0, five-inning victory over Cal Baptist to earn a berth in the championship game.

Cal Lutheran plays District 7 champion Southern Utah State in Cedar City, Utah, in a best-of-three series beginning Friday. The winner earns a berth in the NAIA championship tournament May 19-21 in Oklahoma City.

The Regals, the top-ranked team in the district, had to win three of four games Saturday to secure the district title.

Cal Baptist defeated Cal Lutheran, 5-4, in eight innings in the first game, forcing the Regals to play three more times, including another two games against the Lady Lancers.

Cal Lutheran Coach Wendy Olson did not consider four games in one day to be too much for her team, however.

“They wanted it so bad I think they would have played another game if they had to,” Olson said.

For Pilkington, a first-team all-conference selection, picking up a clutch victory is becoming routine. She threw a two-hitter in the Regals’ tournament opener before returning for Saturday’s endurance contest.

“I was really hungry to pitch,” Pilkington said. “I felt like I could take control and I did.”

The Lady Lancers would not argue.

Shelly Sherman’s run-scoring single in the fourth inning was Cal Baptist’s only hit in the title game. Sherman knocked in Ruthie Rush, who had walked and stolen second.

Pilkington also was active at the plate. She tripled home Dani Piotrowski, who singled, for Cal Lutheran’s first run in the second.

The Regals added another run in the fourth. Teri Rupe singled home Pilkington, who reached base on an error and advanced on Jill Anderson’s single to right.

Cal Lutheran (32-14) earned a berth in the championship game by routing the Lady Lancers in the semifinals. The Regals staged a nine-run rally in the third and added a run in the fifth before the game was called because of the 10-run rule.

Piotrowski, who was 9 for 13 on the day, led Cal Lutheran with two hits in the third, including a two-run double. The Regals collected five hits and forced three Cal Baptist errors in the inning.

Piotrowski was one of five Cal Lutheran players named to the all-district first team. Joining her were Rupe and pitchers Rosa Jimenez, Leslie Stevens and Pilkington.

In other tournament games.

Cal Lutheran 5, The Master’s 2--Stevens pitched a four-hitter and Kim White was 2 for 2 with an RBI as the Regals knocked Master’s out of the double-elimination tournament.

The Regals led, 5-0, before Master’s (13-17) scored its runs in the sixth. Kathy Hotchkiss, who was 2 for 4, hit a run-scoring single. She then stole second, went to third on a fielder’s choice and scored on Fran Souza’s sacrifice bunt.

Cal Baptist 5, Cal Lutheran 4--Rush singled home Kim Fields from second for the winning run in the eighth.

With Cal Lutheran leading, 4-2, the Lady Lancers rallied for two runs in the sixth to send the game into extra innings. Fields walked to lead off the eighth, advanced to second on a passed ball and scored on Rush’s single.

The Regals scored their runs in the second.

Jimenez was 2 for 4 and Piotrowski was 2 for 3 with a run scored.