Arizona Won’t Be Sizing Up Hart Sluggers

Since her daughter Nicole Giordano plays for No. 2 Arizona, Coach Cathy Giordano of Hart could probably put in a good word or two to Coach Mike Candrea of the Wildcats about a couple of her blue-chip players.

But Giordano balks at the suggestion.

“Arizona recruits only speed,” Giordano said. “I don’t have speed. I have big girls who hit the ball a ton.”

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Thousand Oaks, top ranked in the region by The Times, fields perhaps the best contact-hitting team in the area.

Opposing pitchers looking to increase their strikeout total find few against the scrappy Lancers. For example, area strikeout leader Meredith Cervenka of Crescenta Valley had only four strikeouts in the Falcons’ 1-0 victory earlier this season.

Then along comes a rookie. A freshman. An unfamiliar face with an unfamiliar name.

Mandy Kilionski of Simi Valley is all that. But proving to be so much more.

Kilionski made her debut against the Lancers a couple of weeks ago. Although the Pioneers’ lost a 4-1 decision, Kilionski was impressive. She threw a five-hitter and struck out nine, registering more strikeouts against the Lancers than any pitcher this season.

And the 14-year old is just getting started.

“She can probably compare to a Sara Griffin when she gets to that point,” Coach Suzanne Manlet said.

That’s quite a comparison.

Griffin led Simi Valley to Southern Section Division I finals in 1992 and ’93. In her senior year, Griffin threw a one-hitter and hit a solo home run against Los Alamitos for a 1-0 victory in the title game. It is the last Division I title won by an area team.