HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : 1-A DIVISION : La Reina Jumps on Top Early, Cruises to 2nd Consecutive Title

The game had not yet started and already there was talk of a three-peat among members of the La Reina High softball team.

With that kind of premature thinking, the Regents must have been extremely confident to believe they could knock off Tri-Valley League rival Moorpark in the Southern Section 1-A Division championship game and win their second consecutive title.

But it took the Regents no longer than the first inning to justify their confidence.

La Reina scored three runs in the first inning en route to a 5-2 victory Saturday at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

With 14 players returning for La Reina next year, including ace pitcher Michelle St. Pierre, a three-peat seems entirely possible, if not probable.

“Next year could be an interesting year,” La Reina Coach Don Hyatt said.

La Reina’s success in the 1990s can be tied directly to St. Pierre.

St. Pierre (16-4), last year’s 1-A player of the year as a sophomore, threw a three-hitter, struck out seven and walked two. In 130 innings, she struck out 137 and gave up only 12 earned runs.

Confidence should be St. Pierre’s middle name.

“We weren’t nervous at all,” St. Pierre said. “We were just more excited to be here. We’re a team that focuses pretty well when we need to.”

La Reina’s Michelle Nuesca led off the top of the first with a bunt single, stole second and then went to third when third baseman Colleen Tucker failed to handle Jennifer Brant’s ground ball. On the next pitch, St. Pierre hit a chopper to shortstop Korri Martin, whose throw to the plate was too late to get a sliding Nuesca.

Brant scored when her twin Jaye lined a single into left field. Jamie Kendig (two for three, two runs batted in) followed with an infield single that drove in St. Pierre to give La Reina a 3-0 lead.

La Reina (18-4) extended its lead to 4-0 in the third on Shane Anderson’s sacrifice fly, which drove in St. Pierre, aboard on an error.

Moorpark (23-5), which shared the Tri-Valley title with the Regents, scored in the third on Cara Shea’s infield single. The Musketeers added a run in the fifth when Tucker scored from second on Kristin Koch’s throwing error.

Shea (18-5), a sophomore right-hander, gave up six hits and struck out seven.