Marina Pulls Off a Prank, Then Racks Up a Victory

Marina High softball Coach Shelly Luth worried about her best hitter, Carrie Hagen, before her team played Sonora Saturday in the Fountain Valley Baron Classic at Mile Square Park.

“She’s in the bathroom [getting sick],” Luth said just minutes before the first pitch.

But Luth turned out to be the victim of a well-executed prank. When Luth began hitting infield, Hagen disappeared to the restroom. A few minutes later, Christina Klinzing was dispatched to find out what was wrong. Klinzing came back with bad news: “She’s sick.”

“I’m an April Fool,” Luth said afterward.

Hagen opened the game with a walk a stolen base, and scored on an error in the Vikings’ 4-0 victory.

AROUND THE BASES

* Last Tuesday marked the first time former Los Alamitos coach Jami Shannon, fired after 21 seasons and more than 300 victories, faced her former team wearing the colors of Kennedy. “It’s hard to see her out there with a different team,” Los Alamitos shortstop Phelan Wright said.

* Rosary’s Natalie Golda knows a thing or two about finishing. Golda singled in the 12th inning to defeat Troy, 1-0, in the first game of a doubleheader, and hit a two-run homer in the eighth to win the second, 2-1.

* Fountain Valley pitcher Natalie King (9-3) had only 10 runs scored in her support before the Barons scored six Saturday in a a 6-0 victory over University of San Diego High.

LOOKING AHEAD

There are several league showdowns this week. Seventh-ranked Loara plays fourth-ranked Kennedy at Cypress Arnold Park in the Empire League today; Wednesday, No. 8 Woodbridge plays host to No. 9 Laguna Hills in a Sea View League rematch of Woodbridge’s wild 8-7 victory on Saturday; Thursday, fifth-ranked Fountain Valley plays at sixth-ranked Marina in a game that might ultimately determine the Sunset League champion.

The Baron Classic continues at Mile Square Park on Saturday with the title game at 6 p.m. The 2 p.m. semifinals feature Fountain Valley against last year’s Division II champion, Cerritos, and second-ranked Foothill against Camarillo.

If you have an item or idea for the prep softball report, you can fax us at (714)966-5663 or e-mail us at martin.henderson@latimes.com