College Update: Brooks, Notre Dame softball eliminated in NCAA regional
The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.
Caitlyn Brooks (Burbank High, 2015) Notre Dame softball sophomore: Brooks and the Irish ended their season in delayed fashion Sunday in an elimination game of the NCAA Tournament.
In an Auburn Regional contest against University of California Berkeley, the game was halted Saturday because of rain. The contest was resumed Sunday with the Golden Bears earning a 5-3 victory to end Notre Dame’s season.
In the loss, Brooks, a pitcher/infielder, had one hit in three at-bats.
In a game earlier Saturday, the Irish (34-23) earned a 7-6 victory in eight innings against East Tennessee State. Brooks was two for four with two runs batted in and one run scored. In the first inning, Brooks powered a deep home run to left field for two runs that gave the Irish a 3-0 advantage.
In its regional opener Friday, Notre Dame lost to Cal, 6-2. Brooks went hitless in three at-bats.
Brooks a former All-CIF honoree and Burbank Leader Girls’ Athlete of the Year, enjoyed a wealth of success during her second season with the Irish. Starting in 55 of the team’s 57 games, she finished fourth on the squad in batting average at .304 (51 for 168) and was tops on the squad in home runs (eight) and walks (24), third in runs batted in (39) and third in doubles (10) to go along with 24 runs scored. In the circle, Brooks was 5-4 with a 4.22 earned-run average with 39 strikeouts in 61 1/3 innings.
Monique Landini (Bellarmine-Jefferson High, 2013) St. John’s softball senior: Landini ended a stellar career and helped lead the Red Storm to a history-making season.
Landini, a shortstop, guided St. Johns (32-16) to a campaign in which it set single-season program records in Big East Conference wins (17), runs scored (277), runs batted in (251) and matched the 1990 squad for most victories.
The Red Storm saw its season conclude May 13 with an 8-3 loss to De Paul in the Big East Championship game. Landini reached base twice in the loss on a base-hit and a walk.
Landini started in the 47 games she played, ending second on the team in batting average at.355 (49 for 138). She was second on the squad in hits, second in runs scored (30) and tops in walks (21) to go along with 29 runs batted in, seven doubles and two home runs. In her four years at St. John’s, Landini had a .292 batting average with 160 hits and 78 RBI.
Landini was rewarded for her efforts with her second All-Big East Conference honor, as she was a unanimous first-team selection.
Kyle Nicol (Burroughs High, 2016) Cal State Northridge freshman: The former Indians All-CIF player saw his share of appearances out of the bullpen during his first season with the Matadors.
Nicol was second on the team in appearances with 20, all in relief. He ended with a 1-1 record with one save and an 8.63 earned-run average in 24 innings. The right-hander gave up 34 hits and 27 runs (23 earned) with 25 strikeouts and 15 walks.
Nicol’s win came May 9 against Cal State Bakersfield. The freshman threw one inning, giving up one hit while striking out two. His season-high for strikeouts was five, coming April 4 against Pepperdine.
CSUN saw its season come to a close Sunday with an 8-4 Big West Conference victory against No. 13 Cal State Fullerton. The Matadors ended the season 26-29, 12-12 in conference.
Nicol will spend his summer playing for the Yakima Valley Pippins of the West Coast League, a collegiate wood bat league. The season begins June 2.
Shane Thompson (Burroughs High, 2015) Glendale Community College track and field sophomore: The distance runner ended a successful season Saturday in state competition.
At the California Community College Athletic Assn. Meet on Saturday at American River College in Sacramento, Thompson received All-American honors with a fourth-place finish in the 5-kilometers race in 15 minutes, 20.22 seconds.
“Shane gave it everything he had,” Glendale Coach Eddie Lopez told the Glendale News-Press. “It’s another one of those real tough races. I think all three of our guys ran well.”
A week before in the California Community College Athletic Assn. Southern California Regional Finals, Thompson was second in the 5K in 15:17.29.
In the Western State Conference championships April 29, Thompson placed second in the 3,000 steeplechase (9:47.68) and was second in the 5,000 (15:51.51).
Twitter: @jefftsports
