Chance to Hit Back for La Reina, Cornerstone

La Reina and Cornerstone Christian highs each will seek a measure of revenge today against defending champions in the Southern Section softball finals at Mayfair Park in Lynwood.

La Reina (24-5), Tri-Valley League champion, will play Cerritos Valley Christian (16-4) for the Division V championship at 2:30. Cornerstone Christian (21-0-1), Condor League champion, will play Linfield (23-1) for the Division VI title at 11:30.

Both area schools are looking to avenge playoff losses of a year ago. Valley Christian defeated La Reina, 3-0, in the semifinals en route to winning the section title. Linfield routed Cornerstone Christian, 18-1, in the quarterfinals before winning the championship.

“Cerritos knocked us out last year,” junior pitcher Jennifer Baltruzak said. “So, we wanted to play them.”

Baltruzak (18-4) led the Regents to the final by pitching a four-hitter with 10 strikeouts Tuesday in a 2-1 semifinal victory over Ontario Christian. Baltruzak closed league play by pitching 56 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run.

Offensively, Shane Anderson (.425), who has signed with Stanford, Sarah Heiler (.467) and Aimee Thompson (.373) lead the Regents.

La Reina will face junior left-hander Susie Schoales (16-4), who has 223 strikeouts and an 0.13 earned-run average in 153 innings. Schoales has pitched 11 shutouts, including a perfect game against Chadwick.

“It’s an advantage, her being a left-hander,” Valley Christian Coach Eleanor Dykstra said. “At this level, a lot of kids don’t see too many pitchers coming from the left side.”

Junior second baseman Erin Fluck is batting a team-high .408 for the Crusaders, champions of the Olympic League. Junior catcher Crystal Rosenthal is batting .310.

Cornerstone Christian Coach Ted Erdmann would rather forget last year’s meeting with Linfield, which blew open a 3-1 game with an eight-run fourth inning.

“They crushed us,” Erdmann said. “I don’t think it’s revenge, it’s more of a respect factor. We’re a much better team than we were last year.”

Offense is the Eagles’ strength. Freshman shortstop Julia Tamai (.635, five home runs, 51 runs batted in) is one of four players batting better than .500. Junior pitcher Karen Brashears is batting .605 with five home runs and 41 RBIs, and is 12-0 with an 0.57 ERA.

Linfield, Christian League champion, relies on the overpowering pitching of sophomore Janelle Gonzales (22-1), who has 241 strikeouts and an 0.28 ERA in 152 innings. Gonzales has 11 shutouts, including two no-hitters.

“It’s nice that when the offense isn’t working, we can lean on her,” Coach Scott Raftery said. “We’ve done that a few times.”

Freshman outfielder Jenny Pahl leads the Lions with a .508 average, 12 RBIs and 30 stolen bases.