SOUTHERN SECTION 3--A SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : Kennedy Takes Longeway to the Section Final

Cheryl Longeway may only be a freshman, but she’s going to the Southern Section 3-A softball final after gaining her fourth victory in the playoffs.

Longeway pitched a 3-hit shutout Tuesday as Kennedy High School defeated Charter Oak, 3-0, at Royal Oak Junior High School in Covina.

She’ll pitch again for the Southern Section championship Saturday, against either Valencia or La Mirada, which will finish their semifinal game today after playing to a 0-0 tie in 23 innings Tuesday.

“She just gets herself pumped up for playoff games,” Kennedy Coach Sue Hall said. “It’s something that we’ve come to expect.”

Although Longeway (22-3) had to work out of some jams, she allowed just two balls to be hit out of the infield. Both were outs.

Along the way, Longeway struck out 5 and walked 1. She also stopped rallies with runners in scoring position, leaving a runner on third in the third inning, runners on second and third in the fourth and a runner on second in the seventh.

As impressive as Longeway was, she needed some help.

Such as:

--A diving catch by catcher Kris Vucurevic that helped end a Charter Oak scoring threat.

--Three, two-out singles that broke a scoreless tie.

--Another spectacular defensive play by Vucurevic, who turned a passed ball into an out in the seventh.

Kennedy loaded the bases with two outs in the first inning on bunt singles by Suzie Berdis, Laurie Graper and an intentional walk to Longeway. But losing pitcher Caryn Askey (15-3) worked out of the jam by getting Stefanie Hill to fly out to left field.

With one out in the third, Vucurevic was robbed of an extra-base hit. Vucurevic lined a 1-1 pitch down the left-field line, but outfielder Tricia Wentz raced over and, at the last second, made a one-handed catch.

“The way it was going, I felt the first team that scored would win,” Hall said.

Charter Oak (25-4) had its best chance in the fourth.

Nickie Jennings led off the inning by pushing a bunt between the legs of first baseman Gina Alcoser. Tami Delva then hit a high chopper and beat shortstop Missi Gyde’s throw, putting runners on first and second with no outs.

Cleanup hitter Kelly Hunt attempted to sacrifice the runners over, but instead popped up. Vucurevic leaped to her right, making a diving catch.

“Kris got us an out and it was a big relief,” Longeway said. “I don’t like pitching with runners on base and no outs. You give up a hit to the outfield and who knows what could happen.”

Longeway retired the next two batters on grounders.

“That play (by Vucurevic) picked us up,” Hall said. “If they get the bunt down, it’s second and third with one out. And that’s tough.”

The play also seemed to bring Kennedy’s offense alive, as it scored three runs in the fifth.

With one out, Charloette Wahlstee hit a single to left. Then, Berdis attempted a sacrifice, but Askey fielded the bunt and threw to second for the out.

Berdis then attempted to steal second. Catcher Cindy Rowland’s throw was on target, but Delva couldn’t handle it and the ball went into center field. Berdis continued to third. Consecutive singles by Vucurevic, Graper and Gyde gave Kennedy a 3-0 lead.

Charter Oak made one attempt to rally in the seventh, as, with one out, Rayline Tomasso walked and Askey followed with an infield single.

But, Vucurevic threw out pinch-runner Julie Rasich at third on a passed ball for the second out. Longeway then got Cindy Rowland to ground out to end the game.