Stokx Dominates for Newbury Park

The hitting prowess of the Newbury Park High softball team is common knowledge.

But the Panthers are a far cry from a one-dimensional team.

Katie Stokx proved that Tuesday, pitching a one-hitter to lead Newbury Park past Westlake, 6-0, in a Marmonte League opener at Borchard Park.

“In our first six games, we’ve shown sparks of playing well, but today we proved we can play as a team in all parts of the game,” Coach Pete Ackermann said.

Stokx (4-0), the Panthers’ No. 2 pitcher last season, threw with better velocity and location than she did a year ago.

The sophomore’s improvement in the pitching circle is a direct result of her working on her game in the off-season, Ackermann said.

“Her hard work is going to help this team succeed,” Ackermann said.

Although the right-hander walked five batters and struck out only three, she didn’t allow a hit until Katie Kearns drove an off-speed pitch up the middle with two out in the sixth. It was the first hit Stokx allowed in 18 2/3 innings.

Support for Stokx came early and often.

Newbury Park (6-1), ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times, scored a run in the second on Melissa Mastracco’s single to right field.

A two-run single by Stokx and a two-run double by Tawni Yamauchi highlighted a four-run third inning.

Yamauchi, a four-year starter at second base, drove a three-and-two pitch over the left fielder’s head to score Stokx and Kamala Kiffe.

“Tawni’s got surprising power,” Ackermann said. “Fielders who play her for the slap [hit] will find that out.”

The Panthers scored again in the fourth on an run-scoring single by Cindy Muran.

Westlake (6-1), which won the Hart tournament, will not be deterred by the setback, first-year Coach Barbara Jordan said.

“I believe in my team,” Jordan said. “I think they’re going to do good things. It’s their first loss. They learned a lot from it. If they learn from it, we win.”

Erin Voeltz (4-1) of Westlake, who had not allowed an earned run in four previous games, allowed six hits, walked five and struck out six. Five of the runs were earned.

The junior right-hander pitched around slugger Oli Keohohou--one of the most dangerous hitters in the region--walking her three times.

Despite Westlake’s lackluster offense and a shaky defense that committed two errors, Jordan was proud of her team’s performance.

“We’re not going to play a perfect ball game,” she said. “I don’t think anyone is going to play a perfect ball game.”