A LEAGUE OF HER OWN.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer The Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley is a hotbed hotbed, low, glass-covered frame structure for starting tender plants. It differs from a cold frame only in that the soil is heated—either artificially as by underground electric wiring or steampipes, or naturally with partially fermented stable manure, which of teen-age softball softball, variant of baseball played with a larger ball on a smaller field. Invented (1888) in Chicago as an indoor game, it was at various times called indoor baseball, mush ball, playground ball, kitten ball, and, because it was also played by women, ladies' talent. And then there is Jodie Cox. For four years, her once-in-a-generation combination of overpowering o·ver·pow·er·ing adj. So strong as to be overwhelming: an overpowering need for solitude. o pitching and phenomenal hitting have elevated the Quartz Hill High senior to near-legend status in the area. This season, which continues against either Glendora (14-8) or Etiwanda (15-7) in the first round of the Southern Section Division I playoffs Friday, has been typical. Cox, who has committed to Cal State Fullerton, is batting .512 with a region-best nine home runs, 28 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in , 40 runs and 20 extra-base hits ex·tra-base hit n. Baseball A double, a triple, or a home run. in 25 games. Her 26 career home runs is two shy of the Southern Section record. As a pitcher, the left-hander is 22-1 with a 0.58 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 134 innings. She is 44-4 over the last two seasons, 69-19 for her career. ``I remember Jodie's freshman season, everyone picked us to finish fifth in the Golden League,'' co-coach Coy Ray said. ``We ended up tied for first. I've been coaching softball for 15 years and Jodie is pretty close to being the best I've ever seen. ``We're going to have seven starters back next season, but obviously we're going to lose a lot when she's gone. When it comes to crunch time, you want Jodie Cox on your side.'' Superior talent, nurtured through countless hours of backyard practice sessions and a grueling schedule of summer travel-ball games, is not the reason Cox has blossomed so completely. Opposing coaches point to her competitiveness, her fire, her desire to be the deciding factor at the end. It's natural to reflect upon Cox's unforgettable career. However, the fact she deflected de·flect intr. & tr.v. de·flect·ed, de·flect·ing, de·flects To turn aside or cause to turn aside; bend or deviate. [Latin d questions about her accomplishments is evidence of that desire to win. Her complete focus is on what lies immediately ahead. Quartz Hill, which moved up to Division I after winning the Division II championship last season, is in a playoff bracket with seven other league champions, including Orange County power Mater Dei Mater Dei is Latin for "Mother of God", referring to the Virgin Mary. The term has been used to name various institutions, often Catholic, including:
Cox doesn't want her final season to end before its time. ``I've been in quite a few jams, but to me that's what softball is all about,'' Cox said. ``I've had a lot of fun, and oh my gosh, I've come a long way. But I really can't look back, not now.'' Highland knows Highland, Quartz Hill's arch-rival in softball, has had some of the best players in the region over the last three years. However, to the Bulldogs' consternation, Cox has consistently reduced them to a mere afterthought af·ter·thought n. An idea, response, or explanation that occurs to one after an event or decision. afterthought Noun 1. with her arm and bat: She has beaten them six straight times and her game-winning, 13th-inning homer was the deciding hit in the Golden League race last season. ``Jodie Cox really has meant a lot to Quartz Hill. Without her, they would not be where they're at,'' Highland coach Glenda Potts said. ``Her pitching has taken Quartz Hill to the Golden League championship for four straight years. Jodie has definitely taken them to a different level because she is so competitive on the mound. ``She just has a competitive edge, and she knows how to win. That's what makes her such a good player.'' Lancaster coach Kara Kara (kär`ə), river, c.140 mi (230 km) long, NE European and NW Siberian Russia. It flows N from the N Urals into the Kara Sea, forming part of the traditional border between European and Asian Russia. It is navigable in its lower course. Johnson - against whose team Cox came one strike away from pitching a perfect game last week - said it has been impossible not to know who Jodie Cox is, even for marginal followers followers see dairy herd. of high-school softball. ``Every game you read in the newspapers what Jodie Cox did as a pitcher, or how she came through with the winning home run or something like that,'' Johnson said. ``She's obviously very important to Quartz Hill. Basically, she is one of the best overall players in the Southern Section.'' People count most For Cox, only one thing supersedes winning. She'll never forget all the victories and defeats, the strikeouts and home runs, the endless stream of awards. However, none of those memories will linger longer Linger longer is a card game related to Go boom. The aim of the game is to keep your cards for as long as possible. When you run out of cards you are eliminated from the game. than the relationships she has built. ``My catcher Olaya Salazar and I have developed a really great pitcher-catcher relationship - that's something I will always remember,'' Cox said. ``A lot of my teammates, we've been playing together since I was a freshman or a sophomore. We just have a good chemistry. And of course it's been so great playing with my sister Kellie (a sophomore center fielder who is batting .493).'' Cox feels fortunate this year. Quartz Hill's success this season - the team has won 24 straight since an opening loss to Westlake - is especially gratifying grat·i·fy tr.v. grat·i·fied, grat·i·fy·ing, grat·i·fies 1. To please or satisfy: His achievement gratified his father. See Synonyms at please. 2. because this was supposedly a rebuilding year. As it turns out, Cox could have the kind of finale she deserves. ``We lost a lot of players from last year,'' Cox said. ``What's been the difference this season? We've had 25 new players step up. That's why we keep winning big.'' That and the fact Jodie Cox has been around. CAPTION(S): 3 Photos PHOTO (1-3) Jodie Cox of Quartz Hill is one of the best players ever produced in the Antelope Valley. Jeff Goldwater/Daily News |
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