Neill Hopes Award Was Good Sign

L.A. Times Archives

May 25, 1999 12 AM PT

Margaret Neill had an unusual interest in the daytime Emmy Awards last week.

Neill, in her 21st season as Paraclete coach, was particularly pleased when “All My Children” actress Susan Lucci won her first Emmy after 19 nominations.

For the record:

12:00 a.m. May 26, 1999 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Wednesday May 26, 1999 Valley Edition Sports Part D Page 9 Zones Desk 2 inches; 37 words Type of Material: Correction
Softball--A story Tuesday incorrectly described the status of the Southern Section record for career home runs. Geney Orris of Brea Olinda High holds the record with 30 home runs from 1995-98. Jodie Cox of Quartz Hill finished her career Tuesday with 29 home runs.

“I thought to myself, ‘Maybe this is a good sign,’ ” said Neill, who has a 412-72 record but is 0-6 in Southern Section championship games.

The Spirits (19-8), who defeated Providence, 4-0, in the first round, can use some good karma.

They host two-time defending Division V champion Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (13-7) today at Jane Reynolds Park.

Calvary Chapel defeated Paraclete in the 1997 section final.

Highland (19-10), which traveled 1 1/2 hours to upset No. 3-seeded Rancho Cucamonga, 1-0, in a Division I first-round game, lost a coin flip and must drive two hours today for a second-round game at Moreno Valley Canyon Springs.

Coach Glenda Potts is familiar with the playoff philosophy of “going with who brung ya.”

“We want the same bus driver and the same bus,” she said.

The Mission League was the only league from the region to have three teams survive the first round.

Top-seeded Chaminade (21-6-1), which routed Immaculate Heart, 9-0, travels to San Marino (17-5) for a Division IV second-round game.

Harvard-Westlake (14-14), which upset Tri-Valley League champion Oak Park, 4-1, hosts Lompoc (16-10) at Valley College and Notre Dame (20-8), a 3-0 winner over South Pasadena, hosts Ridgecrest Burroughs (17-10).

Saugus is hoping the Division II bracket is a good omen.

The Centurions (17-9-1), who host Whittier La Serna (21-6) today in a second-round game, also played the Lancers in the second round in 1997, when Saugus advanced to the semifinals.

The winner will advance to the quarterfinals on Thursday, most likely against top-seeded Placentia El Dorado.

Saugus defeated El Dorado in the 1997 quarterfinals.

Cathy Giordano didn’t spend much time celebrating Hart’s 6-2 victory over Santa Barbara in a Division II first-round game.

Giordano scrambled off to Arizona late Friday to catch the final two days of the NCAA softball regional at Tucson.

Her daughter, Nicole, a former Times Valley player of the year at Saugus, plays for Arizona.

Giordano’s older daughter, Jeanine, plays for Washington, which was hosting another regional in Seattle.

Both Arizona and Washington advanced to the Women’s College World Series, which begins Thursday in Oklahoma City.

If Hart defeats California High today, it would face either No. 2-seeded Cerritos or Santa Maria Righetti in the quarterfinals on (you guessed it) Thursday.

Sophomore right-hander Meredith Cervenka of Crescenta Valley (21-5) needs two strikeouts today against Santa Ana Mater Dei (25-4) to claim the region lead.

Cervenka, who ended the regular season tied with Hoover’s Cori Herbert with 277, struck out eight in a 2-0 victory over Colton in a Division I first-round game.

Herbert struck out 10 in a 3-0 loss to Downey in a Division I wild-card game last week and finished with 287.

The home run battle between Crystal Roberts of Grace Brethren and Jodie Cox of Quartz Hill continues. Cox hit her 28th career homer on Monday to tie a Southern Section record; Roberts has 27. Both play today in second-round playoff games.

Staff Writer Dave Desmond and Paige A. Leech contributed to this notebook.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

High School Softball

City Section Playoffs

Final

Today at UCLA, 4:30 p.m.

City Championship bracket

* Carson vs. El Camino Real

Southern Section Playoffs

Second round

Today -- All games 3:15

Division I