Rosson Clears Up Some Old Business

It wasn’t easy, but Amy Rosson finally shook a huge monkey off her back.

For all the success she’s enjoyed in her high school career, the Calabasas High senior pitcher had never beat neighborhood rival El Camino Real.

Until Friday.

Rosson pitched a two-hitter and struck out 17 in a 1-0 victory in a game between defending league champions. She struck out the side four times and did not walk a batter.

“The whole team really wanted to win, but me especially,” said Rosson, who has committed to UC Davis. “I’d never beaten them before and I knew this would be my last chance.

“This was the first time in four years we’ve won.”

Calabasas avenged a loss to El Camino Real a year ago when Cara Blumfield hit a two-run home run off Rosson in the last inning to give the Conquistadores a 2-0 victory.

This time, El Camino Real managed only four baserunners.

After pitcher Melissa Coogan singled to right field to lead off the seventh, third baseman Kelly Lombard, center fielder Kelsey Walker and first baseman Lily Landers struck out swinging.

“This was a big win for Amy and for us,” said first-year Coach Barbara Hofer. “This is a true rivalry game for us.

“A lot of the kids on these teams grow up playing together in park leagues, so none of the girls like to lose. And this is a good measuring stick because El Camino is a consistently good team.”

Calabasas (2-0), defending Frontier League champion, moved to Division IV this season after reaching the Southern Section Division III quarterfinals a year ago.

The Coyotes scored in the first inning when Carly Weinstein led off with a double, and scored on a ground out by Sara Hall.

“Getting that early lead was important because we’re usually better at defense than hitting,” said Rosson, who struck out 11 Hueneme batters in a first-round game of the Simi Valley tournament Thursday.

“I was able to relax a little bit knowing we had the lead.”

Candy Wang singled in the fifth inning for the Coyotes’ only other hit off Coogan (0-1-1), who had seven strikeouts and two walks.

“She pitched well enough to win, we just couldn’t get her any runs,” Coach Neils Ludlow of El Camino Real said.

She deserved better.”

The Conquistadores (1-2-1), defending West Valley League champions, won the City Section championship for the 10th time in 15 years last season and are expected to challenge for another Section title.

Calabasas errors put runners on base in the fifth and sixth innings, but Rosson, who finished 15-2 last season, pitched out of the jams.