Granada Hills Sets Sights on Present, Not Future

With freshman ace Katherine Walsh in the circle, the Granada Hills High softball team has a bright future.

But the Highlanders aren’t talking about next year or the year after.

After beating Kennedy, 6-0, Tuesday in a first-round City Championship playoff game at Granada Hills, the Highlanders are looking forward to Thursday’s quarterfinal against perennial power El Camino Real.

“We want another chance with [pitcher] Melissa Coogan there,” Walsh said. “We want to beat the real El Camino, not next [year’s team]. I want this one.”

Walsh (10-2) was solid, scattering three hits with eight strikeouts and a walk.

Granada Hills (17-12) lost two games to West Valley League rival El Camino Real, 6-0 and 1-0, this season, but the Highlanders believe a third time could be a charm.

“Our hitting has gotten a lot better,” Walsh said.

It certainly looked that way against Kennedy (13-12).

No. 6-seeded Granada Hills pounded 10 hits and had a baserunner in every inning but the third.

Four of the first five batters singled for the Highlanders. Kristen Rodner and Kim Jex each had run-scoring singles in the first. The Highlanders added a run in fourth and scored three in the sixth on one hit and two errors.

Kelly Zakosek and Erin Bennett each had two hits.