SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : El Modena Gets an Opportunity to Be the Giant Killer Today

Softball is a game of opportunities. Don’t waste them.

That’s the task facing El Modena in today’s quarterfinal round when it plays the state’s second-ranked team, Simi Valley, which has given opposing teams opportunities about as often as Halley’s comet flashes across the sky.

Can you fathom no earned runs?

Can you fathom a 28-strikeout performance?

Can you fathom Jack and the Beanstalk?

El Modena is Jack. And for the visiting Vanguards (18-5) to cut down the top-seeded team in the Southern Section Division I playoffs, it’s going to take more than an ax and a wild swing.

It will take a big effort from their offense and continued excellence from their defense.

“We’ve got to get runners on base one way or another,” El Modena Coach Andy Koopman said. “Hopefully we’ll get some base hits, and when we do, we have to execute: bunt the runners, hit the ball to the right side, and then get the big hit. Offense has been the part (of our game) that we’ve struggled with most this year.”

And that is why Simi Valley (23-1-1) is a giant. Junior pitcher Sara Griffin was 17-1 with an 0.00 earned-run average. In a 24-inning game against Thousand Oaks, she struck out 28 in a 0-0 tie.

Not exactly what you’re looking for if your offense needs a jump-start.

“I don’t think we’re going to be overwhelmed by anybody,” Koopman said. “(Pitcher Alexis Beckman) has been around enough to know what’s going on. We’ve got some players who have been on travel teams. I don’t think we’ll be overwhelmed--I kind of think we’ll do a good job. I don’t think we’ll be intimidated.”

The Vanguards have stepped up their level of play since the playoffs began, scoring a 2-1 victory in 14 innings over Fountain Valley, and a 5-1 victory over Cypress.

Fountain Valley ended the season ranked seventh in the section among Division I teams, and 10th in Orange County. El Modena didn’t finish the year in either poll.

“I’m not real concerned with what (Simi Valley) can do; we just don’t want to give them any freebies,” Koopman said. “We either play or we don’t play.

“I think we’re going to have to step up (another level against Simi Valley). Defensively, I don’t think we can get any better. Offensively, we have to be a little smarter ballclub, be smarter hitters, and can’t waste any chances we get. Hopefully we’ll get some chances.”

Karen Bartkiewicz (.370, 11 RBIs, 16 runs), Keri Burnsides (.333, 11 RBIs), Kara Hartl (.321) and Beckman (.386, 13 RBIs, 12 runs) are responsible for making the most of those chances.

But pitching and defense are El Modena’s strength. Behind the solid defensive play of first baseman Hartl, second baseman Kristi Bolle, shortstop Jenni Foyl and third baseman Amy Moreno, the Vanguards have won 10 of their last 11--the only loss being a 2-0 decision to Foothill in a game in which they were no-hit by Amy Tessman.

Other than that setback in the final game of the Century League season, Beckman had nothing but shutouts during that stretch, including eight straight. Although not perfect like Griffin, her 0.20 ERA is nothing to overlook.

And even in the loss, Koopman said his team hit the ball hard.

They’ll need to muster one more effort like that--at the very least--unless they have some magic beans.

DIVISION I

Marina at Los Alamitos--Marcy Crouch has pitched consecutive shutouts against Rancho Alamitos (4-0) and Foothill (2-0) for second-seeded Marina (23-3). Some argue that Carrie Dolan is one of the county’s two best pitchers when she’s healthy, but she missed much of the season with a stress fracture, and was injured in a car accident before a 3-2 victory over Garden Grove in the first round. Dolan’s two-hitter beat Santa Maria Righetti, 2-0, Tuesday, but she didn’t face anyone like Robyn Yorke (.603, 33 stolen bases, 30 runs).

Mater Dei at Ocean View--Fourth-seeded Mater Dei (19-3) beat Loara (2-0) and Pacifica (8-0), behind Jennifer Clark’s no-hitter and two-hitter. Ocean View (21-6) had a more difficult time with Mission Viejo (1-0) and Newbury Park (3-1, 11 innings). The Sea Hawks have offensive threat Lisa Dacquisto (.613, 43 stolen bases, 26 runs), but there aren’t any easy outs in Mater Dei’s order: the bottom of the lineup keyed a seven-run inning against Pacifica.

Camarillo at El Toro--El Toro’s wild ride continues against third-seeded Camarillo (22-6). The Chargers (18-12) received an at-large berth, then shocked Kennedy, Orange County’s top-ranked team, in the first round (5-1, nine innings), and followed with a 3-2, nine-inning victory over Katella. Pitcher Misty Lauby (12-5, 0.36) has been everything she was expected to be during the regular season, but will be matched against Camarillo’s Laura Richardson, who threw 75 consecutive scoreless innings this year and defeated Simi Valley, 2-0.

DIVISION II

Long Beach Wilson at La Habra--Fourth-seeded La Habra (22-5) can reach another semifinal with a victory over Long Beach Wilson (18-5). Dani Ortega (0.31 ERA, 255 strikeouts during regular season) has pitched every inning of every game and shut out Los Altos, 3-0, and Arcadia, 2-0. Wilson scored 1-0 victories over teams with impressive records, at-large Bellflower (22-7) and Canyon Country Canyon (20-7).

DIVISION III

Woodbridge at San Dimas--Defending champion and top-seeded Woodbridge (25-5) faces San Dimas (18-7), which has playoff shutouts over Notre Dame (4-0) and Montebello (2-0). Woodbridge beat Costa Mesa, 5-0, but needed 12 innings to beat Glendora, 1-0, and Coach Alan Dugard is concerned about the number of pitches freshman Corey Washington has thrown. Freshman Jackie Sukiasian, who has pitched a perfect game, could step in.

Riverside Arlington at Laguna Hills--Laguna Hills (21-5) has wailed away at opponents for the past 12 games, including playoff victories over Newport Harbor (7-3) and Riverside Ramona (4-0). Although fourth-seeded Arlington (21-5) features pitchers Tiffany Blood (10-3, 0.18 ERA) and Monique Salas (10-2, 0.68), the Lions dropped two of three games to a common opponent--Ramona.

Moreno Valley Canyon Springs vs. Irvine--Second-seeded Irvine (24-5) plays host at Heritage Park, where it beat Trabuco Hills, 3-0, in the first round. The Vaqueros also beat Torrance, 3-1, but face a second-place team from a tough league--Canyon Springs (19-7), which finished behind Arlington. Alleah Poulson (.419, seven home runs) has remained sharp in the playoffs, and cleanup batter Monika Holstein had two RBIs against Torrance.

DIVISION VI

Liberty Christian at Hesperia Christian--A late-season injury forced Liberty Christian (13-5) to use a new catcher and it paid dividends. Shortstop Sara Anderson (.400) moved behind the plate and second baseman Becky Rendon moved to short, making the Minutemen much more competitive at the playoff level. Liberty Christian was beaten, 6-0, by Hesperia Christian (17-7) early in the season, but Coach Rudy Sass says his team is now much stronger offensively and defensively. Hesperia Christian has outscored its two playoff opponents, 31-2; Liberty Christian has a 27-12 scoring edge.