Oliver Pitches West to Win in All-Star Game

It’s unusual for a pitcher to go the distance in an All-Star game. But Chrissy Oliver, the only pitcher on the West roster in the third Daily News East-West All-Star softball game, pitched all nine innings to lead the West to a 3-1 victory over the East at Cal State Northridge on Saturday.

Oliver, named the game’s most valuable player, struck out 11--including the side in the second inning--walked two and surrendered only an unearned run.

“I’m very pleased,” said Oliver, who posted a 0.27 earned-run average in 16 games during the regular season for Simi Valley High. “Basically my risers were working for me (and) my curves were breaking.”

Oliver, who will attend Oklahoma State in the fall, held the East hitless for four innings before Antelope Valley’s Debbie Liske singled to start the fifth. Oliver, a left-hander, finished with a three-hitter.

Catcher Denise White of Royal went three for four and had one run batted in for the West, which picked up its first All-Star game win after dropping 10-1 and 3-0 decisions the past two years.

“I felt really proud of myself,” said White, who blooped a run-scoring single to right in the third. “(The pitch) looked like it was going to be a riser. I knew I was going to pop it up. I won a few games that way in my career at Royal.”

The West tooked a 2-0 lead in the third on two hits and an error.

Leadoff batter Denise Swank of Simi Valley singled and moved to third on a wild pitch and a fielding error on a ball hit by Marilyn Carroll.

Lisa Huffaker of El Camino Real followed with a ground out to score Swank. Carroll, of Newbury Park, later scored on White’s single.

The West scored again with two out in the fifth when Swank, who had doubled and stolen third, scored on Huffaker’s infield single. Swank had two doubles in the game.

The East All-Stars pulled to within 3-1 in the sixth. Leadoff batter Kelly Morton of Paraclete singled, then advanced on a passed ball and a sacrifice bunt. With two out, Desa Pecel hit a fly to right that was dropped, Morton scoring on the play.

Cathy Lewis of Saugus pitched the final four innings for the East, striking out seven and yielding four hits, including three doubles.