Luna Lights the Way for North in 4-3 Victory

Julie Luna, who said she didn’t feel she had anything to prove, played as if she did, helping the North defeat the South, 4-3, Wednesday night in the fifth North-South all-star softball game.

The victory was the third in a row for the North, which leads the series, 4-1.

Luna, who was named MVP of the North team, pitched two scoreless innings, scored the game’s first run and drove in Kendra Wood with the game-winning run. Luna, a senior at Rosary, was two for two in the game.

“I just wanted to do my best and have fun,” said Luna, a second-team all-county choice who will attend DePaul on a softball scholarship.

The North scored first, on second-inning singles by Luna, Leslie Prochaska (Kennedy) and Kristie Hiatt (Canyon) that loaded the bases with two outs against Foothill pitcher Marie Gieron. Danielle Wilson (Esperanza) followed with a single down the right-field line to score Luna. Prochaska was thrown out at the plate by South right fielder Lolita Harper (Woodbridge) to end the inning.

The South tied the score in the third when Harper, who was named her team’s MVP, led off with a double. She went to third on a sacrifice and scored an a single to left by Jessica Walker (Huntington Beach). The South went ahead in the fourth, when Monica Mora (Marina) singled in Jennifer Hamer (El Toro) for a 2-1 lead.

The fifth inning was the key for the North. Gretchen Thompson (Brea Olinda) led off with a single. Dara Marzolo (Orange) followed with a double and Thompson was thrown out at third on the play. Wood (Villa Park) doubled into the gap in right-center to score Marzolo with the tying run.

One out later, Luna singled to left to give the North a 3-2 lead. Fullerton’s Angie Fancuberta pitched two innings and picked up the victory. Thompson, Marzolo, Luna and Prochaska each had two of the North’s 13 hits. Hamer had two hits for the South.