Slouber Strikes Out 47 in 21-Inning Victory

Kirsten Slouber of Van Nuys Montclair Prep struck out seven in four innings Monday, giving her 47 strikeouts in a 21-inning, 2-1 softball victory over visiting Santa Monica Crossroads.

It was a continuation of an Alpha League game that had been suspended May 3 because of darkness.

Slouber’s total was third-best in Southern Section history, trailing only De De Weiman of Cerritos Gahr and Lisa Fernandez of Lakewood St. Joseph, who had 56 and 48, respectively, in a 1986 game that lasted 29 innings.

Her 47 strikeouts are the fifth-best total in state history. Alicia Hollowell of Fairfield holds the state and national record, 61 in 30 innings, set in 2001. Jennifer Deering of North Salinas struck out 49 in 1997 in 34 innings.

Slouber might have had more strikeouts Monday, but she scored the winning run after drawing a two-out walk, stealing second and scoring on Maya Liss’ single to center against Katie Bofshever, whose 33 strikeouts in the game are sixth-best in the section.

Slouber (10-4) gave up seven hits and walked four for Montclair Prep, 10-5 overall and 3-3 in league. Bofshever (4-5) gave up 13 hits, walked eight and hit two for Crossroads (5-8, 3-3).

Slouber said she was more excited about scoring than the strikeouts “because it got the game over.”

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While Santa Maria Righetti pitcher Jenna Maiden has been sidelined since April 10 because of ligament damage in her shoulder, sophomore Sarah Grossi has been a suitable replacement for the senior, who has committed to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

But Grossi felt a pinch in her shoulder in the third inning against Westlake in the Thousand Oaks tournament on Saturday. She remained in the game but gave up eight more runs in an 11-2 loss.

“I’ve never lost a pitcher in 26 years, and I’ve lost two in a month,” Coach Richard Cornejo said.

Against Orange El Modena, third baseman Natalie Estorga and shortstop Antonette Hernandez pitched in an 11-0 loss.

Righetti clinched the Pac-5 League title last week, “so we can experiment this week,” Cornejo said.

Maiden (7-3, 0.75 ERA) received approval from her doctor to begin throwing over the weekend, so she could be ready for the playoffs, which begin next week.

-- Martin Henderson

Diving

Ventura Buena senior Dwight Dumais scored 667.10 points to win his second consecutive Southern Section boys’ championship and his third title in four years at the Division I final meet Tuesday at Marguerite Recreation Center in Mission Viejo.