High School Softball Playoffs : Silverman’s 1-Hitter Sinks Gardena, 18-3

The City Section 4-A Division sends 16 teams into the playoffs from just four leagues, making for first-round mismatches of the sort that occurred Tuesday.

Top-ranked El Camino Real routed Gardena, 18-3, behind Beth Silverman’s one-hitter and seven runs batted in at El Camino Real.

Silverman (16-4) struck out 13 and walked one, allowing only Denise Jo’s third-inning solo home run. The Mohicans’ other runs came in the second, when El Camino Real committed four errors.

“We’ve always prided ourselves on our defense, but in that inning we made as many mistakes as we do in two games,” Coach Neils Ludlow said. “But we shook them off and settled down.”

The Conquistadores (19-4), pounded out 14 hits against Sarah Macias (8-9), who has figured in all of Gardena’s decisions. Silverman had a sixth-inning grand slam along with a double and single. Alisha Knope also had three hits and scored three times.

However, a key to El Camino Real’s chances for a sixth consecutive trip to the final could be Lisa Huffaker. Making her first appearance after missing nine games because of a twisted right knee, Huffaker was 3 for 3 and reached base in all five plate appearances.

Forced by her injury to be designated hitter in this game, Huffaker is expected to start at shortstop in Thursday’s quarterfinal game against Banning.

Ludlow believes El Camino Real is peaking as it attempts to regain the championship it won in 1985 and 1986.

“We began the season with 10 new players, the most I’ve ever had on one team,” Ludlow said. “We’ve improved steadily over the season, and we’re as good as we’ve been at any time this year.”