SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : 4-A DIVISION : Charter Oak Freshman Puts Clamps on Kennedy, 2-0

Kennedy High School needed to step up to a higher level of play Tuesday, but the Fighting Irish instead stubbed their toes against Charter Oak in a Southern Section 4-A semifinal softball game at Arnold Park.

The visiting Chargers from Covina got to Kennedy starter Cheryl Longeway (23-2) for two runs in the first inning, and that proved to be plenty. Freshman pitcher Becky Champlin and a tight defense closed the door the rest of the day for Charter Oak in a 2-0 victory over the Fighting Irish (23-4-1). The Chargers will play Garden Grove Friday for the division championship.

“They have a very good team,” Kennedy Coach Sue Hall said. “We needed perfect plays today, but we made good plays--not perfect plays.”

Charter Oak (24-4) asserted itself right away when leadoff batter Kathy Evans hit a grounder to shortstop Nicole Paloney. The ball stuck in her glove long enough to allow Evans to beat the throw to first.

Evans took second on Lori Grey’s sacrifice and scored on Kelly Hunt’s line single to center. Jackie Duncan’s throw home was on target but not in time to get Evans.

Hunt took second on the throw and then scored when Shari Schultz’s bloop single dropped into right field and Lana Jiminez’s throw to first base was off target.

Kennedy managed to get only two leadoff batters on base against Champlin (5-1), who struck out eight, allowed two hits and didn’t walk a batter. Jiminez advanced the farthest after reaching first on second baseman Julie Kulik’s error and advancing to third on a pair of sacrifices. But Longeway’s grounder to third baseman Christy Tucker ended the inning.

The Fighting Irish did manage to hit the ball solidly several times, but Charter Oak’s outfielders were able to make outstanding running catches in the second and sixth innings.

“Defense is the key for us,” Charter Oak Coach Joe Davis said. “We had good play in left, center and right (fields). They made every play.”