SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL / 1-A DIVISION FINAL : La Reina, Moorpark to Meet Yet Again

The softball players from La Reina and Moorpark highs have a score to settle and they couldn’t have picked a better time for a showdown: today’s Southern Section 1-A Division championship at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

La Reina and Moorpark, co-champions of the Tri-Valley League, will meet for the third time today at 2:30 p.m. The teams split in league play and are seeded 1-2 in the playoffs.

Top-seeded La Reina (17-4), which has won the section title three times in 11 years, is the defending 1-A champion.

For Moorpark (23-4), it is the school’s first appearance in a section final in any sport, according to Coach Larry McDermott.

Both league games between the teams were one-run decisions, and both coaches are eager to see how the third meeting turns out.

“It’s a classic matchup of two good teams with two good pitchers,” La Reina Coach Don Hyatt said.

La Reina is led by junior right-hander Michelle St. Pierre, last year’s 1-A player of the year. St. Pierre (15-4, 0.68 earned-run average) has struck out 130 and walked 16 in 123 innings and has given up 12 earned runs, seven in one game against 5-A finalist Simi Valley.

Hoping to upend La Reina and bidding for player-of-the-year honors is sophomore right-hander Cara Shea of Moorpark.

Shea (18-4) has struck out 231 in 155 2/3 innings. She has walked only 18 and has allowed 10 earned runs (0.45 ERA).

La Reina has four players batting better than .300: freshman first baseman Shane Anderson (.381, 21 runs, 23 runs batted in), senior third baseman Valerie Serpico (.364, 26 runs, 22 RBIs), sophomore catcher Erin Petric (.306) and junior shortstop Jennifer Brant (.305).

Moorpark is led by sophomore first baseman Cher Tinnerillo (.361, 20 RBIs), freshman second baseman Mindy Penrod (.300) and junior right fielder Karen Richter (.295).