Time for Chaminade to Make Its Move

It’s the same story every season.

Chaminade High stumbles early playing one of the region’s toughest schedules, builds momentum, then charges into the postseason.

The Eagles began the 1999 and 2000 seasons with 1-5 records before advancing to the Southern Section Division IV final, winning the title in 1999.

They’re doing it again.

Chaminade is 11-7-1 and leads the Mission League with a 6-0 record.

A nonleague schedule that has included Southland powers Foothill, Mater Dei, Hart and Valencia doesn’t make for a pretty record.

“But it’s the best formula you can have,” shortstop Kelly Musgrove said. “It prepares us for league and the playoffs.”

Junior pitcher Christina Luppachini (9-3), who has battled back pain all season, is in peak form. She has lowered her earned-run average to 0.88 and shut out Mission League challengers Alemany and Notre Dame last week.

The return of Kansas-bound infielder Lindsey Weinstein from an ankle sprain that sidelined her for 10 games also has helped.

“She’s been essential,” Luppachini said of Weinstein, who is batting .461 since her return two weeks ago. “It’s tough to replace the way she gets around the bases.”

*

You can catch a glimpse of Lynee Hastings just about anywhere in Burbank, except on the softball field, where her face is obscured by a catcher’s mask.

The Burroughs High junior is Miss Teen Burbank. Her face appears on posters all over town and the pageant is replayed regularly on a local cable station. She will be introduced at Dodger Stadium on May 9 during Burbank night festivities before the Dodgers’ game against the Florida Marlins.

Hastings is batting .224 for the Indians (11-10) and has thrown out 15 of 29 runners trying to steal.

First-year Coach Jennifer Gomez was so impressed with Hastings before the season that she moved All-Foothill League catcher Sara Larquier to shortstop.

“We’re a better team with her at catcher,” Gomez said. “She gets dirty and does the grunt work for us.”

*

Kirt Kohlmeier won his 200th game as Hoover coach last week, a 7-3 victory over Banning at the Thousand Oaks tournament.

*

Cassie Corless’ hot bat has helped Quartz Hill stay in the race for the Golden League championship.

She is 10 for her last 14 with two home runs and four runs batted in, raising her average from .237 to .365, second on the team behind Kellie Cox at .635.

*

Valencia is not losing sight of its primary goal: to win its first Foothill League championship.

The Vikings (20-2, 7-0) are in first place and ranked No. 1 in the region by The Times and No. 2 in the Southern Section Division II poll.

“I don’t pay attention to the polls,” Coach Donna Lee said. “It’s where you finish.”

*

Village Christian (17-2) climbed to No. 1 in the Division V rankings after outlasting previous No. 1 Paraclete (17-3) in an 18-inning Alpha League game, 1-0.

The game was dominated by pitching and a generous strike zone.

Freshman Lauren Nydam of Village Christian and junior Sara Gonzales combined for 44 strikeouts, 19 on called third strikes.

The teams meet again, most likely for the league title, in a season finale on May 8 in Lancaster.

Paraclete will be seeking its region-record 21st consecutive league title.

“I believe the next game will be just as intense,” said first-year Coach Jana Kovar of Village Christian, which shared the league championship with Paraclete last season.

“I think they’ll come out with the heart to beat us, but we now have the confidence and know that we can beat them.”