Cox, Quartz Hill Return to Form After Poor Start

Quartz Hill High, a traditional softball power in the region, staggered to a 4-8 start.

The Rebels dropped from regional and section polls. The hitting wasn’t there. Neither was pitching nor defense.

Written off by almost everybody but themselves, the Rebels rallied to win the Golden League title, their fourth in five seasons and ninth since 1990, and defeated Sultana, 5-0, on Friday in the first round of the Southern Section Division II playoffs.

A big reason has been the performance of Kellie Cox, a two-time Times’ All-Valley outfielder who moved to pitcher and helped Quartz Hill (16-9) win 12 of its last 13 games.

Cox is 13-2 with a 0.44 earned-run average and her .569 batting average during the regular season led large-schools hitters.

Quartz Hill (16-9) hosts Hart (24-5) today in the region’s most intriguing second-round game.

Hart, ranked as high as No. 2 in one national poll earlier this season, defeated Buena, 6-0, in its playoff opener.

The Indians, who ousted Quartz Hill, 3-0, in the first round last season, will likely play its second consecutive game without Princeton-bound outfielder Kristin Lueke, a fleet leadoff hitter who was batting .390 when she broke her right, throwing, thumb in Hart’s regular-season finale against Valencia.

Doctors have recommended Lueke sit out at least another week. Lueke wants to play today.

If Lueke gets into the game, it will most likely be as a courtesy runner, Coach Cathy Giordano said.

“Why risk it?” Giordano said. “I’d rather have her healthy and able to grip a bat later.”

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It was a perfect first round for three leagues from the region.

Chaminade, Notre Dame and Alemany of the Mission League won their Division IV playoff openers and outscored opponents, 8-0.

Village Christian and Paraclete, the only postseason entries from the Alpha League, cruised through Division V first-round games. The division’s No. 1 and 2 teams routed opponents, 35-0.

Montclair Prep, Crossroads and Whitney of the Delphic League each won playoff openers by shutout.

The most disappointing performance was turned in by the Frontier League, which went 0-3, including a 1-0 loss by league champion Santa Paula to Alemany, the third-place Mission team.

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Softball Playoffs

CITY INVITATIONAL

Final, 2 p.m. today, at UCLA

* Birmingham vs. Narbonne

SOUTHERN SECTION

Second-round games, 3:15 p.m. today

Division I

* Highland vs. Valley View at Morrison Park in Moreno Valley

* Valencia at Righetti

Division II

* Rio Mesa at California

* Hart at Quartz Hill

* Thousand Oaks at Mira Costa

* Crescenta Valley vs. Mater Dei at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley

Division III

* Newbury Park at Dos Pueblos

Division IV

* South Pasadena vs. Chaminade at Chaminade Middle School in Chatsworth

* Lompoc at Alemany

* Notre Dame Academy vs. Notre Dame at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park

* Workman at La Canada

Division V

* Village Christian at Bishop

* Orange Lutheran vs. St. Bonaventure at Camino Real Park in Ventura

* Montclair Prep at Pasadena Poly

* Kern Valley vs. Paraclete at Jane Reynolds Park in Lancaster

Division VI

* Oaks Christian at Oxford Academy

* Cornerstone Christian at L.A. Lutheran

* Faith Baptist vs. Santa Clarita Christian at Central Park in Saugus