Rosson Rises to Occasion, 1-0

Calabasas High has risen to the top of Southern Section softball even as pitcher Amy Rosson’s riseball took a dip.

Without an effective riseball, the trademark pitch she used to strike out 241 batters this season, Rosson lifted the Coyotes to their first section title with a 1-0 victory over defending champion Chaminade on Saturday in the Division IV final at Mayfair Park.

“I just couldn’t get it to rise [Saturday],” said Rosson, who still struck out seven and walked two in a two-hitter.

Catcher Sara Hall had a better description.

“Her rise worked great as a drop,” she said.

The UC Davis-bound right-hander had enough to silence the division’s Cinderella team, which upset three league champions and top-seeded Rosary to get to the final.

Calabasas (21-7) has had talented teams before, but always managed to falter in the playoffs.

The Coyotes again appeared headed in the wrong direction three weeks ago, losing all four games in the Thousand Oaks tournament.

But, under first-year Coach Barbara Hofer, they rallied to finish off a third consecutive Frontier League championship and win their final six games to advance to their first appearance in a championship game.

“We had our low points and we’ve had our high points,” said Hall, who will play at Purdue.

“This was definitely a high point today.”

Rosson (20-5), Hall, first baseman Heather Bell (Southern Mississippi) and right fielder Ashleigh Orton (Bradley) received much of the attention this season because each has accepted a college scholarship, but three others combined to manufacture the Coyotes’ run.

In the third, freshman outfielder Krystle Chamberlain looped a one-out single to center, stole second and went to third on a sacrifice by sophomore Carly Weinstein.

Chamberlain scored on a line single to left by shortstop Danielle Dryer.

“We know when [Krystle] gets on that we’re starting a rally,” Hofer said of her No. 9 hitter, who finished with a .357 average and 38 stolen bases in 38 attempts.

Dryer, one of the few Coyote seniors not headed to a college program, couldn’t have found a better way to finish her career.

“When I was younger, I always wanted to play in college,” she said. “But I’ve succeeded now and I’m ready for new challenges.”

The two third-inning hits were the only allowed by right-hander Christina Lupacchini (17-9) of Chaminade. After Dryer’s single, Lupacchini retired the final 10 batters.

But the Eagles (18-13), who left the bases loaded in the second, threatened only once more.

Courtney Whale slashed a double to right-center and advanced to third on a throwing error with two out in the sixth.

Rosson escaped the jam by striking out Lupacchini on a low fastball.

“We did a great job of laying off her riseball,” Coach Steve Harrington of Chaminade said.

“But Amy did a great job of adjusting to what the umpire was giving her.”

Harrington said afterward Saturday’s game might have been his last with the Eagles.

Harrington, who is 124-56-2 in six seasons and was selected The Times’ 1999 coach of the year, will interview this summer for at least two positions as a college assistant, including one at Texas Tech.

With seven seniors in the lineup, it might take a while for Calabasas to reload for another title run.

Chaminade, which was supposed to be rebuilding this season, returned to the final with a freshman, five sophomores and two juniors in the lineup.

“We’ll be back next year,” Lupacchini said.