Southern Section Softball Playoffs

Division IV Championship Rosary vs. Corona Santiago

When--5 today

Where--Lakewood Mayfair Park

Rosary (26-6)--The Royals have a good mix of speed, slap and power hitters. Rosary is relentless in moving runners into scoring position and putting pressure on the opposition to make the perfect play. The Royals have won 14 in a row and 17 of 18. Their last loss was to Troy, 1-0, in a game in which they played without pitcher Christy Ledford (15-5, 0.41 ERA) and first baseman Erin Hogan (.441, 29 RBIs). Rosary defeated third-seeded Santa Fe Springs St. Paul, 5-2, avenging an earlier loss. It was Rosary’s only playoff game not decided by one run.

Santiago (28-3)-- The Sharks have a lofty record, and reached the finals by outscoring opponents, 36-5, including a 14-2 semifinal victory over North Hollywood Harvard-Westlake. None of Santiago’s opponents went into the playoffs with more than 14 victories. Monique Mejia is the Sharks’ most dangerous hitter, and left-handed pitcher Angie Melendrez (25-3, 0.83 ERA) has a good curve. Santiago, a second-year varsity program, has won 17 in a row, and its only non-tiebreaker loss was to Corona, 3-1.

Key to the game--Rosary has played the tougher competition and proven itself in close playoff games, beating Rancho Alamitos in 19 innings and West Hills Chaminade, 1-0. The Royals know they can win a tight game. The pressure on Rosary is to put the pressure on Santiago.

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PROBABLE LINEUPS

ROSARY

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No. Name Yr. Pos 3 Tymarie Novak Jr. CF 27 Jaime Fruth Sr. 2B 1 Erin Connors Sr. 3B 33 Natalie Golda So. C 36 Theresa Cronin Sr. RF 20 Erin Hogan Jr. 1B 9 Samantha Jennings So. LF 4 Dana Kenney Fr. DH 2 Michele McCarthy Sr. SS 8 Christy Ledford Sr. P Coach: Tom Tice

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CORONA SANTIAGO

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No. Name Yr. Pos 22 Monique Mejia Jr. SS 7 Samantha Perez Jr. 1B 31 Jessica Bashor Jr. C 25 Angie Melendrez Sr. P 57 Jennifer Halzle So. 3B 1 Lindsey Bashor Fr. CF 3 Shannon Acevedo So. 2B 14 Hillary Ellis So. DH 15 Brandi Watt So. LF 11 Margaret Hernandez Jr. RF Coach: John Perez

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