It’s Miss and Hit as West Wins

It began with a whimper but ended with a bang.

After two senior all-star teams, including 14 players who have signed with NCAA Division I schools, combined for a single hit through five innings, an offensive explosion ignited a wild finish.

Tracey Milburn of Moorpark High delivered a two-out, run-scoring single in the ninth inning to give the West a 3-2 victory over the East in the San Fernando Valley All-Star game Wednesday at Cal State Northridge.

It was the second consecutive victory for the West, which has won only four of 11 games in the series.

The 400 or so fans had little to cheer about in the first five innings.

The West’s Sandra Durazo of Kennedy singled to lead off the second but that was the only hit until teammate Justine Rachlin of Thousand Oaks singled in the sixth.

Durazo, who was 21-5 with 306 strikeouts in 187 2/3 innings at Kennedy this season, and Thousand Oaks ace Jennifer Sharron handcuffed the East through six innings.

Sharron relieved Durazo in the fourth and had a rocky start but recovered in time not only to save face but to take home the game’s most valuable player award.

Sharron hit Jodi Kent of Verdugo Hills with her first pitch, threw wild on her second and hit Hope Robertshaw of Crescenta Valley in the bill of the helmet with her third.

“I had more movement than I thought when I started,” said Sharron, the Marmonte League player of the year who is headed to Notre Dame. “After that though I kind of got it under control.”

Sharron struck out the next three batters. She was so dominating, she got the call to return to the pitching circle when Megan Petersen of L.A. Baptist worked herself into a big jam in the ninth.

Petersen, who took a 2-0 lead into the ninth, surrendered a single to Robertshaw to lead off the inning. Rian Standley of Verdugo Hills doubled to left before Vanessa Raschella of Hart drew a walk to load the bases.

Pinch-runner Tamra Freedman of Montclair Prep scored on a passed ball and pinch-runner Karla Nanne of Hoover scored on a single by Vicki McKay of Paraclete to tie it, 2-2.

That’s when Sharron returned to the circle. Sharron, who was 52-16 in three years at Thousand Oaks, struck out the only two batters she faced. The left-hander struck out eight in 3 2/3 innings.

The West’s Missy Miller of Granada Hills singled to right with two out in the bottom of the ninth and went to second on a passed ball to set the table for Milburn.

The West finished with 10 hits, eight in the final three innings.

Petersen, who is headed to Iowa, went two for two for the West.

The West scored in the seventh on a run-scoring double by Reseda’s Kristy Rebbeck and in the eighth on a single by Petersen.