CITY SECTION SOFTBALL: EAGLE ROCK READY TO SOAR IN PLAYOFFS.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer

Eagle Rock High has won a lot of softball games and advanced to the City Championship playoffs every season since coach Gary Kuniyuki took over four years ago. However, the Eagles have failed to advance past the quarterfinals during that span.

Fifth-seeded Eagle Rock (19-6) begins its quest to break new ground at 2:30 p.m. today in a first-round matchup against visiting Crenshaw (22-4).

The way pitcher Melissa McGillivray and catcher Christina Kula have been playing, this could be the year of the Eagles. After a slow start because of a knee injury, McGillivray, a junior left-hander, is 18-4 with a 0.86 ERA. Kula, a senior catcher, is batting .444 with with four home runs, 10 over two seasons.

``Melissa's not a dominating pitcher. We live with our defense,'' Kunyaki said, ``and Christina is a pure power hitter. We also have Veronica Lopez. She's a sophomore but a very heady player.''

Kuniyaki believes Eagle Rock has a better shot than usual because the level of play has declined.

``The coaches were kind of talking down the City this year,'' Kuniyuki said.

Eagle Rock could play Sunset Six League champion Verdugo Hills, a neighborhood rival, in the second round. The fourth-seeded Dons (22-3-1), led by catcher Crystal Dingman and shortstop Jennifer Lombardo, play host to South Gate (17-5-1) today. Verdugo Hills beat Eagle Rock 12-2 in the season opener for both teams.

--Tough draw for Taft: Taft (16-9), making just its second postseason appearance in eight years, sneaked into the Championship bracket as the 16th seed and was rewarded with a road matchup against top-seeded defending champion San Pedro (21-3).

``It's going to be hard for us,'' coach Jim Lutz said. ``I know the Invitational is just for 17th place, but it would have been more fun for us because we probably could last longer.''

The Toreadors have had difficulty against quality pitchers. Nevertheless, if power hitter Dana Finkelstein (.480, three home runs, 17 RBI) sophomore pitcher Jillian Johnson play well, who knows?

``We need to play exceptionally well and San Pedro needs to have an off day,'' Lutz said. ``If that happens, we can give them a game.''

Ironically, Taft's only other playoff venture during Lutz's eight-year tenure was in 1998 against San Pedro. Back then, Taft was the higher seed but lost 4-0.

--Familiar foe: Crosstown rivals Kennedy (13-8) and Granada Hills (16-12), no longer in the same league since the City Section realignment in 1998, square off in a first-round matchup today at Granada Hills.

Kennedy beat the Highlanders twice this season by a combined score of 14-0.

It hasn't been an easy season for Kennedy, which advanced to the semifinals last year and returned many of its key players, including ace pitcher Ryane Montes. But Montes transferred to Monrovia and several other starters were dismissed or quit.

``We've lost seven players in all, which has been tough,'' Kennedy coach Barbara Rodrigue said. ``For me, it's been a little bit of a battle (keeping things together).''