Coaches Review Core Issue

The game is called softball, but don’t let the name fool you: eliminating the use of soft balls is a growing trend that has finally trickled down to the high school level.

Many area teams are switching to a more lively ball with a harder, denser core--similar to the one used at the college level. These balls fly off aluminum bats with increased velocity and travel extended distances--as much as 25 feet further on a line drive.

Colleges began using a juiced-up, optic-yellow ball in 1993 and it changed the game dramatically. The Southern Section recently announced that a harder ball made by Wilson--the official ball of the section--would be used in all championship finals this season, sparking some debate about whether a change is necessary.

“We’ve played with the Wilson ball the last few years [in the] Laguna Hills [tournament] and I had a girl break her nose,” Saugus Coach Rob Hilton said.

Harder, slightly lighter balls are meant to help improve hitting, which can be stymied by dominant pitching.

Previously, the most commonly used ball was made by deBeer, which coaches agree is not very durable.

“We were going through deBeers left and right,” Thousand Oaks Coach Gary Walin said. “Especially when it got into the outfield during the early part of the season, because it gets wet.

“It became mush after the sixth or seventh inning. You’d hit a shot in the gap and it wouldn’t go anywhere.”

Many of the competitive Orange County teams have been using the harder-core balls for years. Now Valley and Ventura County teams are playing catch-up.

No area league is more prepared for the harder ball than the Marmonte League. Coaches discussed the use of a harder ball at the end of last season and voted to use the Dudley CFP-12, which is similar to the Wilson, in all league games.

Many believe use of a harder ball could help cut down the number of extra-inning games in the pitching-rich Marmonte League.

“I think it will make a lot of difference. I don’t think you’ll see 14-, 15-inning games anymore,” said Walin, whose Lancers played 42 extra innings in seven games last season.

With the exception of the Marmonte League, most teams are at a disadvantage because their coaches only recently found out about the Wilson ball being used in the playoff finals.

Additionally, home teams dictate which ball will be used in nonleague games and tournaments.

While most coaches are still awaiting shipment of the harder balls to practice with, others have been practicing with them from the start.

“[If] you start with it the first day [of practice], [players] don’t even notice [the difference],” Simi Valley Coach Suzanne Manlet said.

Girls who also play on Amateur Softball Assn. travel teams are used to the harder ball. Others may find them hard to get used to.

“The only thing I don’t like is that some of the seams are pretty high, which means that early in the game you might have some bad bounces,” Walin said.

Said Saugus’ Hilton, whose team won the Southern Section Division II title last season: “I’m concerned for the pitchers. The infielders are ready. They’ve got mouthpieces and they can react.”

Although the softer deBeer 212 is used in Foothill League games, those teams will undoubtedly be forced to use a harder ball in tournament and nonleague games.

While Hart High Coach Al Weil likes the idea of using a livelier ball, he fears players will ultimately pay the price.

“We can’t juice it up so much that we get kids hurt,” he said.

Staff Writer Dana Haddad contributed to this story.

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Softball Top 10

Preseason rankings of regional high school softball teams, selected by The Times.

SCHOOL: 1. Camarillo

‘96 RECORD: 23-3-1

COMMENT: The Scorpions lost to Mater Dei in Division I final but have the talent for a second shot.

*

SCHOOL: 2. Thousand Oaks

‘96 RECORD: 21-9

COMMENT: The Lancers have a wealth of talent and depth, now it’s time to win.

*

SCHOOL: 3. Saugus

‘96 RECORD: 27-4

COMMENT: Defending section Division II champions have reloaded.

*

SCHOOL: 4. Simi Valley

‘96 RECORD: 15-13

COMMENT: This will be the best Pioneer team since the Sara Griffin years.

*

SCHOOL: 5. Hart

‘96 RECORD: 21-8

COMMENT: The Indians have promising pitchers and will be better, position by position.

*

SCHOOL: 6. Rio Mesa

‘96 RECORD: 19-7

COMMENT: Key players return from a Spartan team that nearly beat Camarillo in ’96 playoffs.

*

SCHOOL: 7. Crescenta Valley

‘96 RECORD: 22-7

COMMENT: Two-time defending Pacific League champions will score plenty of runs.

*

SCHOOL: 8. Alemany

‘96 RECORD: 20-5

COMMENT: The Indians return seven starters, including standout pitcher Kim Diener.

*

SCHOOL: 9. Chaminade

‘96 RECORD: 15-14

COMMENT: All-Valley pitcher Maureen LeCo will be surrounded by good travel-ball players.

*

SCHOOL: 10. El Camino Real

‘96 RECORD: 17-4

COMMENT: The Conquistadores have dominated the City over the past decade.

AT A GLANCE

* THE PROVEN: Saugus senior Nicole Giordano batted .498 and stole 51 bases in 52 attempts last season. She moves from shortstop to pitcher. She is headed to Arizona along with Thousand Oaks first baseman Erika Hanson, a left-handed slap hitter. . . . Two-year starter Cindy Ball, a Camarillo junior, could be the most dominating pitcher in the region. . . . El Camino Real senior Ramona Shelburne is a two-time Times’ All-Valley selection. . . . Camarillo senior Brooke Rutschman batted .500 and was named Marmonte League most valuable player last season. . . . Thousand Oaks senior pitcher Jennifer Sharron had an 0.34 ERA and earned a scholarship to Notre Dame. . . . Camarillo junior Jessica Mendoza could be the region’s best catcher. . . . Kennedy pitcher Sandra Durazo was The Times’ Valley Player of the Year in 1996.

* THE PROMISING: Players from the ASA national champion 14-and-under Stealth team who will make their varsity debuts this season include twins Brandi and Lacey Cope of Thousand Oaks, Amanda Fortune of Hart, Sara Hall of Calabasas, Teresa Russell of Royal and Jamie Sturdivant of Simi Valley. . . . Brittany Green is only a freshman, but will pitch and play in the infield for Simi Valley.

* FAST FACT: Camarillo, Saugus, Moorpark, Kennedy, El Camino Real and Verdugo Hills all played in a section title game last season.