COMMUNITY COLLEGE STATE SOFTBALL TOURNAMENT : No-Hitter by Palomar’s Ward Bounces Cypress From Bracket

Kim Ward of Palomar was too much for Cypress in the winners’ bracket final of the State softball tournament Saturday night at Riverside.

Ward, Southern California pitcher of the year, threw a no-hitter and hit a home run in the Comets’ 2-0 victory.

Ward (35-1) has allowed one earned run in 233 innings this season. She finished with five strikeouts, giving her 402 this season.

Ward, 27, was the 1984 San Diego Section high school player of the year. She returned to school and pitching last season.

Cypress (49-19) plays Orange Coast at noon today. The winner will play Palomar (49-3) for the title at 2 p.m.

Palomar’s first run came in the first inning when Suzie Esposito walked, took second on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ward.

Ward hit the home run, her 10th over the center-field fence in the sixth.

Cypress’ highlights were limited to defensive plays by center-fielder Kristi Richerson, who made a pair of diving catches and also threw Ward out at the plate.

Richerson also prevented the perfect game by getting a walk with two outs in the sixth. Chrystal Youngberg, the previous batter, had appeared to beat out an grounder to short but was called out.

Courtney Hodge got a one-out walk in the seventh for Cypress, but Susan Dugas grounded out and Jennifer Johnson lined to center for the final out.

It was Ward’s second no-hitter of the tournament, ninth of the season and 22nd of her career.

In other games:

Orange Coast 1, Long Beach 0--April Crosby scored from third on a throwing error in the top of the eighth for OCC (29-14). It was the 11th shutout for OCC pitcher Jill Bishop (20-10).

Orange Coast 5, West Valley 2--Jill Bishop drove in two runs with a double in the third to give the Pirates a 3-0 lead. OCC (28-14) scored two more runs in the fourth and hung on to eliminate West Valley (33-13).