Verdugo Hills makes strong statement

Edgar Melik-Stepanyan

TUJUNGA -- Playing in a weak Sunset Six softball league, Verdugo Hills

High faces little difficulty in steam rollingthrough opponents.

Such was the case Monday at Verdugo Hills High as the Dons easily

defeated Canoga Park, 13-1, to claim their second straight league title.

It’s not the league opponents Verdugo Hills (15-3-1, 6-0 in league)

has a problem with, it’s the L.A. City Section seeding committee.

Playing in a weak league, considered one of the least deep in terms of

quality teams, the Dons get “no respect” according to Coach Darren

FitzGerald, once the seeding committee gathers together at the end of the

league play to decide on the pairings.

“[The selection committee has] got to give us some respect,” said

FitzGerald, whose squad was seeded No. 14 in the championship bracket

after ending league play undefeated last year.

“I think we should be in the top six [in the championship bracket].

They say we play in the worst league. [Other] teams get more respect than

us that we beat.”

Some of the opponents FitzGerald was referring to were Eagle Rock,

Sylmar, San Fernando, and Taft.

On Monday, FitzGerald’s squad pounded Canoga Park (7-10-1, 3-3 in

league) starting pitcher Shannon Siaotong (6-7) for 15 hits and 11 earned

runs.

Three of those runs were scored by leadoff batter Laura Hovestreydt,

who had three hits, including her third home run of the season in a

three-run fifth inning.

Three other Don players scored twice, including starting pitcher

Danielle Burch, who picked up her sixth win of the season.

Burch was stellar in the circle, allowing two hits, two walks, and

striking out 13.

Don catcher Crystal Dingman had three hits and two runs and Jennifer

Lombardo added two singles.

BOX SCORE

Canoga Park*0*0*0*0*0*0*1*--*1*2*2

Verdugo Hills*2*1*4*1*3*2*x*--*13*15*2

Canoga Park*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K

Siaotong*6*13*11*15*2*0

Verdugo Hills*IP*R*ER*H*BB*K

Burch*7*1*0*2*2*13

WP-Burch (6-2-1).

LP-Siaotong (6-7).

2B: VH-Dingman, Burch.

3B: VH-Dingman, McGivney.

HR: VH-Hovestreydt (3), Burch (2).

SB: VH-Mogensen 2, Avila, Sisk, Lombardo, Hovestreydt.