Ball Is Wild but Tames Westlake in Final, 3-0

Other softball pitchers wish for slumps like Cindy Ball’s.

The Camarillo High sophomore battled control problems Saturday but still set down Westlake, 3-0, in the championship game of the Thousand Oaks tournament at Thousand Oaks Community Park.

Ball hit three batters, walked two and allowed five hits.

Earlier this week, she gave up three runs to Newbury Park, ending her scoreless innings streak at 62, but still beat the Panthers, 5-3.

“That’s the nice part about it,” Camarillo Coach Nicole Victoria said. “She’s not completely on top of her game right now, but she’s winning.”

Ball, who had nine strikeouts and was named the tournament’s most valuable player, blamed her recent slippage on mechanical problems.

“The coaches said I’ve been crow-stepping,” she said. “And when I start thinking about my mechanics I lose control.”

Ball (9-0-1) allowed at least one baserunner in each of the first five innings, then ran into more difficulties in the seventh.

She gave up three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out, but escaped when Sarah Koppel and Kelly DeArman flied out.

“We’ve probably left more runners on than the whole Marmonte League,” said Westlake assistant coach Kevin Carmichael, speaking on behalf of Coach Beth Calcante who refused to talk to reporters after the game.

The Warriors (13-10) left nine runners on base against Camarillo (19-1-1), but their defense--which has which has betrayed them all season--hurt them again.

Westlake third baseman Sarah Koppel threw high to first after fielding Brooke Rutschman’s two-out bunt in the fourth, allowing Robin Degner to score from second and giving the Scorpions a 1-0 lead.

The Scorpions, noted for the pitching of Ball and Melanie Richardson, named the tournament’s most valuable pitcher, showed off their offense in the fifth.

Kourtney Edge doubled and Jessica Mendoza followed with a single, moving Edge to third. After Mendoza stole second, Robin Degner hit a two-run double.

“We have great hitters,” Victoria said. “A lot of players are coming through and it’s really building confidence. If we play at this caliber and play together we should be there on May 31 or June 1 for the [Southern Section Division I] championship.”