Hart Wins Softball Version of Late Show

The Santa Barbara High softball team was more than an hour late for its first-round Southern Section 4-A Division playoff game against Hart on Friday, leaving Hart fans wondering if the extra time in the sun might lead to a cold performance.

But Hart Coach Al Weil remained positive.

“Any team can overcome any adversity,” Weil said.

Although the Indians were the first to break a sweat, Santa Barbara felt the most heat, dropping a 6-0 decision to the top-ranked Indians.

Hart starter Kym Weil (24-1) melted Don batters, scattering three hits and striking out 10 to earn the win.

“We pretty much relaxed after we got all our runs,” said the younger Weil, who has 277 strikeouts this season. “My location was a little bit off today, more than usual.”

Location wasn’t much of a problem for Hart batters. The Indians (28-1) pounded out seven hits and scored three runs in each of the second and fourth innings off Santa Barbara right-hander Dana Wackerman (14-10).

Kelly Kepplinger, who will play for College of the Canyons next year, was two for three--including a run-scoring triple in the fourth--and had three runs batted in.

Danielle Wood started the first rally with a single. After a walk and a sacrifice, Nikki Fox and Kepplinger each singled to give Hart a 3-0 lead. The Indians added three more runs in the fourth on a single, Kepplinger’s triple and two errors.