SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Fullerton Blanks Sunny Hills

One year after winning the Southern Section Division II softball title the hard way--as an unseeded, unspectacular and unlikely winner--Fullerton is trying to take a different approach this year.

They’re trying to go in with a little respect.

The Indians finally pulled into first place--where most expected them all along--with a 13-0 Freeway League victory over Sunny Hills; the victory creates a tie with the Lancers (7-9, 6-1 in league). A battle with third-place La Habra looms on Thursday, but for now, Fullerton (16-7, 6-1) is the team to beat.

The Indians have won five in a row--all by shutout--and pitcher Angie Fancuberta has pitched 37 consecutive scoreless innings since losing, 5-1, to Sunny Hills.

Of course, she could have allowed a few on Tuesday and still come away with a victory after her teammates scored 10 runs in the first inning. Deborah Hargrave had the game’s biggest hit, a three-run homer on the game’s 12th pitch--a low line drive through the left-center field alley that also scored Alissa Sorrell and Fancuberta.

It was Hargrave’s first homer and Fullerton’s first of the year.

“We don’t like to look forward too much,” Hargrave said, “but that’s a great help to go into the playoffs as a first-place team.”

Consecutive singles by Alicia Feuchter and Valerie Miller, an error, hit batter and walk followed. Then came two errors. The final count: 13 batters, four hits, four errors and single RBIs from Jenette Guerrero, Amy Scott, Kiki McAulay, Sorrell and Fancuberta.

It was a tough outing for Sunny Hills pitcher Jennifer Deane, who was in an automobile accident on Saturday and was still badly bruised; she had not thrown in three days, and she left after nine batters.

Fullerton added three runs off Sarah Monken in the seventh on RBIs by Marianne Emigh, Scott and Charlene Aguilera.

Fullerton went into last year’s playoffs with a 14-13 record--the worst record of any league champion--then knocked off three seeded teams for the title.

“The kids are focused,” Fullerton Coach Scott Weber said. “We know how to play the big games.”

In other Freeway League games:

La Habra 1, Troy 0--Aimee Weathers’ leadoff homer in the sixth led La Habra (16-6, 4-2).

In the Century League:

Foothill 5, El Modena 1--Marie Gieron pitched a four-hitter, had two hits and drove in three runs for No. 2 Foothill (20-2, 6-1).

Orange 1, Villa Park 0 (16)--Vickie Villano tripled and scored on an error in the bottom of the 16th for Orange (10-9, 4-3). Tammy Kincaid struck out 23 for Villa Park (14-11, 3-4).

In Empire League:

El Dorado 6, Century 0--Nikki Hart belted her sixth home run for No. 10 El Dorado (14-8, 5-2). Stacey Schaner had two RBIs and Kelli Tom scored twice and pitched a one-hitter.

Kennedy 7, Cypress 2--Kelly Bunker had three hits, two RBIs and scored twice for No. 5 Kennedy (16-7, 7-0). Cypress is 10-7, 3-4.

In the Orange League:

Savanna 2, Magnolia 1--Amanda Wilcox had two hits, including a triple, as Savanna (15-5, 5-2) pulled into a first-place tie with Magnolia (13-7-1, 5-2).

In the Pacific Coast League:

University 3, Laguna Beach 0--Corby Bouchard threw a no-hitter for University (8-9, 4-3).

In the Sunset League:

Los Alamitos 6, Edison 0--Michelle Schneider had two hits and two RBIs to lead No. 6 Los Alamitos (17-4, 5-2).

Marina 2, Fountain Valley 0--No. 3 Marina (16-5, 6-1) took sole possession of first place as Marcy Crouch threw a two-hitter and struck out eight; she has not allowed an earned run in her last 56 innings. No. 9 Fountain Valley is 14-11, 5-2.