PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Smith Throws Changeup Into El Toro’s Plans and Irvine Wins

Irvine High School was set for its second-round matchup with rival El Toro Friday when Jennifer Brundage’s arm went dead.

Brundage, The Times’ player of the year in softball last season as a sophomore, had pitched Irvine, Orange County’s second-ranked team, to 19 victories in 20 games this season. The blemish was a 1-0 loss to 10th-ranked El Toro in the first round of South Coast League play.

But doctor’s instructions to rest a tight pitching arm left Irvine without its varsity pitcher. No problem.

Freshman Rebecca Smith brought her changeup with her from the junior varsity and pitched the Vaqueros (21-2, 5-1 in league) to a 1-0 victory and into a first-place tie with host El Toro (17-8, 5-1).

Smith, who had pitched only one varsity game this season--a 23-1 victory over Costa Mesa in the Corona tournament--had a two-hitter with six strikeouts to pick up her first league victory. She was 9-1 with the junior varsity.

“I knew when they called me up I was going to pitch my best,” Smith said, “and if it didn’t work out, I was going to be satisfied with what I did because I gave it my best.”

El Toro Coach Jim Daugherty said, “We were totally too prepared for Brundage. (Smith) is a good little pitcher. She mixed it up real well, kept the ball down on us and threw it in the strike zone. You’ve got to adjust, and we didn’t adjust.”

Irvine was unable to get a hit off El Toro’s pitching combination of Paige Lauby (9-1) and Jennifer Jourdan, but managed to turn Alleah Poulson’s leadoff walk in the fifth into the winning run with the help of an error.

Karissa Meith sacrificed. One out later, Cheryl Dunmeyer also bunted. Catcher Meagan Juggert’s throw to first bounced in the dirt and away from first base. Poulson headed home on the error, sliding in ahead of the tag. The inning ended on the same play, when Juggert threw out Dunmeyer at second base.

El Toro managed to get a runner, Lauby, to third with two out in the fifth, but Smith struck out Juggert on a changeup.

“Usually I can control my changeup well,” Smith said. “That’s my best pitch. I knew they were a high hitting team, so I kept the ball low and outside.”

Brundage expressed some frustration at being limited to designated hitter Friday. She noticed her arm was tight and that she couldn’t generate any power in Wednesday’s victory over Dana Hills. “I couldn’t get it stretched out,” she said. “I just have to give it some rest. It is not hurt or anything. The muscles are just tired.”

Lauby struck out seven and walked one for El Toro, but she remained on the bench after a nose bleed in the sixth inning.

In the Sea View League:

Saddleback 1, University 0 (12 innings)--Desi Abrego allowed only a seventh-inning single and had 20 strikeouts for host Saddleback (15-2, 5-1).

Tustin 18, Corona del Mar 0 (5 innings, mercy rule)--Freshman Shona Bray (1-2) pitched a no-hitter but walked four for host Tustin. Laura Teal had three hits and four RBIs for Tustin (12-7, 6-0). Corona del Mar is 0-9, 0-6.

In the Sunset League:

Marina 1, Westminster 0--Junior Willa Parchen (8-3) pitched her second no-hitter of the season for host Marina (20-5, 5-1). Parchen had nine strikeouts and walked two. Marina scored in the seventh when Tricia Cole singled, took second on a wild pitch and came in on a throwing error after a bunt by Parchen.

Huntington Beach 4, Edison 3--Host Huntington Beach scored three times in the fourth, two on a scoring error. Laura Minard (4-4) pitched a three-hitter for Huntington Beach (5-13, 3-3).