L.A. Games : Thousand Oaks Whips Leuzinger to Capture Elusive Softball Title

Thousand Oaks High routed Leuzinger, 15-2, Saturday at El Camino College to finally capture the L. A. Games softball title that has just eluded it the past two summers. Thousand Oaks placed second in 1986 and third in 1987.

Amy Chellevold allowed two hits, struck out eight and walked four in her complete-game victory.

Phronsie Franco led a potent Lancer offense with a triple, home run and three runs batted in. Teammate Tricia Gregoire was 3 for 4 with two RBIs and Marsha Bour (2 RBIs), Jamie Heggen (1 RBI), Shani Smythe (1 RBI) and Amy Connolly (1 RBI) each had two hits.

“We hit the ball very well,” Coach Chuck Brown said. “And Amy pitched a solid game.”

Thousand Oaks advanced to the final with a 7-4 semifinal win over Rubidoux earlier Saturday.

Gregoire was 4 for 4 with four RBIs and Chellevold and Bour each had two hits. Franco added a home run.

BASEBALL

Chatsworth 7, Los Alamitos 0--Reed McMackin threw a one-hitter, struck out four and walked six for the Chancellors in the semifinal round.

Vince Simili led Chatsworth’s 12-hit attack with a 3-for-3 effort and Derek Wallace hit a two-run home run.

Chatsworth plays Riverside Poly, a 9-4 winner over Ocean View, in the championship game at noon today at El Camino College.

Chatsworth 8, Loara 5--Derek Wallace replaced Mike Weinstein with the bases loaded and no outs in the bottom of the seventh in the quarterfinal game, then calmly struck out all three batters he faced.

Weinstein had managed to pitched his way out of several jams and allowed 10 hits in six innings.

Rich Aude was 2 for 3 with an RBI for Chatsworth, which had only six hits but took advantage of four Loara errors.

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Granada Hills 66, Gardena 63 (OT)--Alvin Brown scored 22 points to lead the Highlanders in a quarterfinal game at El Camino College.

Granada Hills, which advanced beyond the quarterfinals for the first time, plays Westchester, a 59-39 winner over Saddleback, in a semifinal game at noon today at El Camino College.

John Johnson scored 14 points for Granada Hills and teammate Edward Thomas added 11, but it was the dominating play of Brown, a 6-foot, 3-inch center, that made the difference.

“He’s really tough when he gets the ball inside. He’s very active,” Granada Hills assistant Louis Cicciari said of Brown, who averaged 15.6 points and 12.6 rebounds last season.

Granada Hills’ strong showing is relieving to Highlander fans who were concerned about next season when Granada Hills moves from the City Section 3-A Division to the 4-A level.

Cleveland, Kennedy and Taft will be among league opponents.

“I think these kids have a lot of confidence already, but every time we go out and win gives them that much more,” Cicciari said.

Granada Hills 66, Montebello 55--Brown was also a key figure in this fourth-round game, scoring 26 points to lead the Highlanders.

Teammate Jamal Brantley scored 13 and Johnson added 10.