El Camino Real Grabs Berth in Softball Final

The El Camino Real High softball team has become such a fixture in the City Section 4-A Division championship game that the playoffs seem almost a formality.

But the Conquistadores nearly tripped over that formality Wednesday, battling Banning for 11 innings before emerging with a 2-1 win at South Gate Park.

The victory sends El Camino Real, which has won five of the past six City championships, into its seventh consecutive title game. The Conquistadores will play San Pedro, a 9-1 winner over San Fernando on Wednesday, next Wednesday at Cal State Northridge.

Next week’s game will be a rematch of the 1988 championship won by the Conquistadores, 5-0.

With one out in the 11th and the score tied, 1-1, Lisa Huffaker beat out a grounder to shortstop Laura Espinoza and Jenny Fleming reached first on pitcher Kricket Kern’s throwing error, allowing Huffaker to advance to third.

Huffaker then scored the winning run when Alisha Knopf hit into a fielders’ choice.

“All I wanted to do was get to home plate,” Huffaker said. “This is my senior year. We did it last year, we’re going to do it better this year.”

Chrissy Peck (22-2), a junior transfer from Bel Air Prep, struck out eight Wednesday and scattered six hits--five of them singles. She also yielded only two walks and one earned run in going the distance.

“It was a typical Peck performance,” El Camino Real Coach Neils Ludlow said. “She made the pitches when we needed it (and) she made the strikes when we needed it.”

Although Banning threatened infrequently during regulation play, the Pilots had the Conquistadores on the edge of their collective seat on three occasions in extra innings.

In the eighth, right fielder Carolyn Mattes dropped Espinoza’s fly ball, allowing Espinoza to take second. The senior advanced to third on a fielder’s choice but was held there as Peck retired the next two batters.

With two out in the ninth, Banning got consecutive singles from Nona Negron and Belen Mota but the rally ended when Wendy Miller popped to second. Peck walked Candice Burnett after battling to a full count with two out in the 10th. Burnett then stole second but was stranded when Joy Padilla grounded to third.

“I started off good but when I get nervous, I tense up,” Peck said. “I was too excited.”

El Camino Real (23-2) scored its first run on an error in the first inning. With one out, Peck singled, then scored from first when Banning catcher Padilla overthrew first base in an attempt to pick off Peck.