CLU Reaches District Softball Final

Christ College of Irvine devised a plan for pitching to DeeAndra Pilkington long before the Cal Lutheran slugger stepped to the plate Friday.

“We made up our minds last night that she was not going to beat us with her bat,” Christ College Coach Lislie Lloyd said. “She can beat us with her pitching, but we were not going to let her beat us with her bat.”

So the Lady Eagles intentionally walked Pilkington twice with runners in scoring position. But Pilkington also singled twice and threw a four-hit shutout in the Regals’ 2-0 victory in the first round of the NAIA District 3 softball playoffs at Cal Lutheran.

Cal Lutheran (32-16) can clinch its second consecutive district title with a victory over Azusa Pacific at noon today. The Cougars (16-17), who defeated Christ College, 3-2, in eight innings Friday afternoon in the double-elimination tournament, must defeat the Regals twice today to win the district title.

The right-handed Pilkington (16-4) seized control against the Lady Eagles. She got three outs on just four pitches in the first inning and finished with six strikeouts.

Pilkington--Cal Lutheran’s leading hitter with a .415 average--was equally dominant with the bat Friday. After singling to left field in the first, Pilkington was walked intentionally in the second to load the bases and set up Katie Kjonegaard’s run-scoring single.

“The first time they walked me I thought it was an honor, but I got mad the second time because I wanted to see what I could do against them,” Pilkington said.

Pilkington followed a single by Danielle Piotrowski with a single of her own, then Kjonegaard bunted and was safe at first on a fielder’s choice to load the bases. Teri Rupe’s fly to left scored Piotrowski.

The Regals, who have won three games in a row and nine of their past 11, collected nine hits off Judy Lotton (11-5).