CLU Looking Forward to Lengthy Playoff Stay

Cal Lutheran softball Coach Kecia Davis naturally thinks the Regals will do better in this trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs than they did in 1993, when they were swept out in two games.

The Regals had better improve, because it’s a long trip to Storm Lake, Iowa, to come back with nothing.

Cal Lutheran, which played host to the 1993 West regional, could actually spend two weekends in Storm Lake. If the Regals win the four-team, double-elimination West regional, which starts today, they will play in the six-team finals May 18-21, also at Storm Lake.

The Regals (28-10), seeded third in the West, will open at 11 a.m. PDT against second-seeded Buena Vista (23-9), the host school. Top-seeded Chapman (37-5) will face No. 4 Simpson (26-13) in the other first-round game at 1 p.m.

The losers will play an elimination game at 3 p.m. and the winners will meet at 5 p.m.

A regional champion could be crowned Saturday--or Sunday, if two teams remain with one loss each.

Cal Lutheran junior right-hander Heidi Stevens (13-5, 1.75 earned-run average), the player of the year in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, will start the Regals’ first game.

Davis said she might also use sophomore Gina Delianedis (11-5, 3.04) and freshman Johanna La Rocque (4-0, 1.77).

“Gina and Johanna are the finesse pitchers,” Davis said, “and Stevens is the power pitcher.”

Buena Vista, which beat Cal Lutheran, 4-0, in the 1993 regionals, will start All-American right-hander Heather White (22-7, 1.04). The Beavers advanced to the Division III finals last year as the top-seeded team, but were eliminated in two games.

Cal Lutheran’s top hitters are Stevens (.397, eight home runs, 46 runs batted in), junior shortstop Aimee Snider (.440, two home runs, 40 RBIs) and sophomore second baseman Tracy Little (.423, 27 RBIs).

The Beavers, who have outscored opponents, 221-70, are led by senior second baseman Megan Coe (.451, 36 RBIs) and junior first baseman Michelle Tesdahl (.426).

Chapman is the only team in the regional that Cal Lutheran has faced this season. The Regals were swept in a doubleheader, 4-0 and 8-5, Feb. 18 at Cal Lutheran.