Thatcher Pitches Agoura to Title in 1-A Softball Final

The Agoura High softball team, which won only one game in the 1986 and 1987 seasons combined, completed a rags-to-riches journey by winning its first Southern Section 1-A Division title with a 4-1 victory over Big Bear in the championship game Saturday at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

The Chargers (23-2), in their first venture outside the opening round of the playoffs, got a strong performance by sophomore right-hander Melissa Thatcher, the pitcher of record in every Agoura decision this season. Thatcher threw a four-hitter, walked two and struck out nine--including the side in the second inning.

“I got a lot of them on curves,” she said of the strikeouts. “I didn’t throw too many fastballs. I tried to make them guess what’s coming.”

Thatcher had no clue as to what was coming after the game when her teammates covered her with whipped cream. Agoura Coach Linda Moule received similar attention when the Chargers dumped a cooler of water over her head.

Big Bear Coach Mike Clifton was not in the mood to celebrate, however.

“It was not our best effort,” said Clifton, who coached the Bears (22-4) to the Small Schools Division title last year. “When you play the final, you have to play your best game to win.

“They put the ball in play and we didn’t play defense.”

With her team trailing, 1-0, in the first, Agoura’s Jill Hartwig reached base on a fielding error and, with one out, Thatcher singled. Both scored on Leslie North’s double to center field and the Chargers led, 2-1.

Agoura, which won its last 20 games of the season, was limited to four hits by Marjie Sievers (20-4). But the Chargers picked up a pair of important insurance runs in the fourth.

Robyn Bailey reached base on a throwing error and scored when Big Bear first baseman Leigh Anne Drake threw the ball into center field after Tamara Dulansky was retired on a sacrifice bunt.

Wendy Baertschiger followed with a bunt single, advanced to second on a sacrifice and scored the Chargers’ final run when third baseman Daphne Staricka overthrew Drake after fielding Lisa Little’s ground ball.