Freshman Kilionski Gives Simi Valley Title

Make way for the area’s freshest pitching sensation:

Mandy Kilionski of Simi Valley High has arrived.

On the strength of Kilionski’s right arm and the Pioneers’ timely hitting, Simi Valley pulled off back-to-back upsets Saturday to claim the Thousand Oaks tournament title at Los Cerritos Intermediate School.

Kilionski, a freshman with only eight starts, scattered five hits, struck out seven and out-dueled Cerritos ace Jessica Vander Linden in a 1-0 victory in the championship game.

Cerritos (24-2), the Southern Section’s top-ranked team in Division II, threatened in three innings, but Kilionski (6-2) and a bend-but-don’t-break defense prevailed.

“This feels really, really good,” Coach Suzanne Manlet said.

Simi Valley (16-8), which beat Thousand Oaks, 3-2, in a nine-inning semifinal, scored in the final with a two-out rally in the fifth.

Nicole Brazier and Brittney Green hit consecutive singles off Vander Linden, who will attend Florida State.

With runners at second and third, third baseman Stephanie Machado of Cerritos had to leave her feet to stab a sharp ground ball to her left by Melissa King. Brazier scored and King was credited with a single.

Cerritos, which had a runner thrown out at the plate in the second inning, threatened again in the seventh.

With runners at second and third and one out, Kilionski induced a comebacker and struck out Carrie Ishimura on three pitches to give Simi Valley the title.

“The first couple innings were shaky,” said Kilionski, who was chosen the tournament’s most valuable player. “But I decided I need to do this now and focused on that.”

Simi Valley 3, Thousand Oaks 2--Kilionski was looking for atonement against the Lancers (18-5-1) in a semifinal game earlier in the day and achieved it in grand fashion.

Kilionski, who lost her debut against Thousand Oaks, 4-1, several weeks ago, threw a three-hitter, struck out nine and walked three in nine innings. Both Thousand Oaks runs were unearned and scored with the international rule in effect.

“The most important game for me was Thousand Oaks,” Kilionski said.

Trailing, 2-1, in the bottom of the ninth, Simi Valley started the inning with Kolia Ponce at second base. Jenni Shields singled up the middle to lead off.

With two out and runners at second and third, Pam Clark ripped a sharp grounder down the third-base line. Third baseman Sheridan Fowler missed on a diving stab attempt and both runners scored.

“It’s a thrill to have someone like Pam get the hit because she’s been swinging a good bat but not getting [the hits],” Manlet said.

Nicole Angelo (19-4) of Thousand Oaks, who allowed one hit through six innings, finished with a seven-hitter.

Cerritos 2, Hart 0--The Indians found their rematch no easier against Vander Linden.

Vander Linden, who beat Hart, 1-0, with a four-hit, 15-strikeout gem in a Fountain Valley tournament game earlier this year, tossed a two-hitter and struck out 10.

Because there is a good chance Hart (19-5) will face Cerritos in the playoffs, Casey Pickard got her second start against the Dons. Hart coaches are hoping that keeping pitchers Amanda Fortune and Lindsey Kontra out of view will give the Indians an edge later.

Pickard (2-2) did an admirable job. The junior right-hander allowed five hits and was threatened only in the fourth and eighth.

With two out and the international rule in effect, back-to-back doubles by Ishimura and Julie Hoshizaki netted two runs.

Harvard-Westlake 1, Camarillo 0--Anna Russell threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts and Harvard-Westlake (19-4) won the green bracket fifth-place game.

Lisa Feigenbaum tripled and scored on an error with two out in the fourth inning.

Russell (16-2) also threw a one-hitter with five strikeouts and one walk in a 4-1 victory over Loara earlier in the day.