Area’s Best City Teams Punchless in Softball Finals : 4-A: Granada Hills’ meager offense contributes to San Pedro’s 3-0 victory.

The Granada Hills High softball team knew its fate would be determined by its ability to hit the riseball of San Pedro’s Nicole DeLuca.

Granada Hills batters practiced all week against the pitching machine, but when the City Section 4-A Division championship game began Tuesday in front of 500 at UCLA’s Easton Stadium, the Highlanders realized it wasn’t a valid substitute for the real thing.

DeLuca, a senior right-hander, threw a two-hitter and the Pirates took advantage of three errors to win their third 4-A title in four years, 3-0.

“It was a little overwhelming, playing out there,” third baseman Missy Miller said. “We had to see her pitch before we could react and we never got going.”

DeLuca (17-3) kept Granada Hills off balance from the outset, with two strikeouts sandwiched around a pop fly by Jessica Creith.

“Once I got those top two hitters [Creith and leadoff hitter Miller], I knew I was in control,” DeLuca said. “I had the defense to back me up.”

DeLuca finished with five strikeouts and no walks.

Granada Hills, playing in its first section title game since 1991, had just two baserunners and only one scoring opportunity.

Trailing, 1-0, with one out in the fourth, Creith reached on an infield single, was sacrificed to second and stole third before DeLuca forced a popup by cleanup hitter Kim Rowerdink.

“She was just another good pitcher, nothing to get excited over,” Creith said. “We just didn’t hit at all.”

Miller beat out an infield grounder in the sixth, but was thrown out trying to steal second to end the inning.

After wasting scoring opportunities in the first two innings, San Pedro (22-5) finally took advantage in the third after first baseman Tiffany Snyder mishandled a throw.

Darlene Caracoza scored after a hard grounder by Michelle Spanjol glanced off the top of Miller’s glove.

The Pirates added two runs in the fifth on two errors by the Highlanders (15-6). Caracoza’s grounder kicked off the heel of Snyder’s glove.

Caracoza scored from first on a sacrifice by Liza Prieto when Snyder fielded the ball cleanly but threw wildly down the first-base line. Prieto later scored on a groundout by DeLuca.

Creith (13-6) struck out three and gave up four hits.

“I was starting to relax after the first inning,” Creith said. “I tried to talk out there but [the Granada Hills defense] didn’t have the momentum like I did throwing pitch after pitch, keeping focused.”

Granada Hills Coach Carolyn Gunny figured the seven-day break following an emotional semifinal victory over defending champion El Camino Real would work to the Highlanders’ advantage.

Instead Granada Hills, with one senior starter, reverted to early season form, when unearned runs cost it five losses.