SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL / 3-A FINAL : Saugus Seeks to Sweep Past Woodbridge

Ron Hilton wanted to impress upon his Saugus High softball team early that it could win the Southern Section 3-A Division championship.

So, after a February scrimmage at Hawthorne, Hilton took the Centurions to Mayfair Park in Lakewood, site of today’s championship game, for a visual reminder of their ultimate goal.

Perhaps inspired by that visit, the Centurions have posted a 26-3 record and earned a trip to Mayfair Park. Saugus will meet top-ranked Woodbridge (29-4) at 5 p.m. in the championship game.

Saugus might hold a psychological edge over Woodbridge because of a 5-1 victory over the Warriors in March in the first round of the Laguna Hills softball tournament. But Hilton thinks Saugus will see a different Warrior team in the section final.

“I think they were flat that day. I don’t think we got a real good look at what Woodbridge can do,” he said.

Woodbridge has rolled into the final with four playoff wins by the combined score of 33-2. The Warriors are led by hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Alison Ward, who has compiled an 18-2 record. Ward also leads Woodbridge in runs batted in with 25.

If Ward should falter on the mound, the Warriors can turn to control artist Stacy Washington, a right-hander who is 10-2. The Woodbridge attack revolves around Alison Johnson (.509 batting average, 20 runs) and Debbie Nasitka (.355, 21 stolen bases). Jessica Montgomery (.360) and Deanna Black (.340) provide additional offense.

Saugus has relied on the right arm of senior Kerry Coudry, who is 22-3 with an 0.26 earned-run average. She has 226 strikeouts and 23 walks in 173 innings.

Offensive leaders for Saugus are Keri Volpe (.462, 11 RBIs), Kim O’Leary (.375) and Corinne Ochoa (.349, 13 RBIs). The Centurions also play tight defense, committing only 29 errors this season.