CITY SECTION SOFTBALL: OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS FOR ECR AGAIN ECR 1, BIRMINGHAM 0.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne Staff Writer

For the past four seasons, earning a trip to the City Section semifinals has brought nothing but misery to the El Camino Real of Woodland Hills softball team.

Since winning their 12th City title in 1999, the Conquistadores have been eliminated by either Carson or San Pedro in the semifinals each of the past four years.

But every season, El Camino Real puts itself in position for another try at knocking off those teams. And after defeating fifth-seeded Birmingham of Lake Balboa 1-0 Tuesday in the City Section quarterfinals, the fourth-seeded Conquistadores will have yet another chance.

``I always joke about how we're standing on top of this wall right now, and I really feel like I can see over it,'' El Camino Real catcher Francesca Enea said. ``We don't have the best memories from last year, but I think we're better this season and if we can play solid defense, if Megan (Miller) can keep pitching the way she is, I think we could really do it this year.''

With the victory, El Camino Real (25-6) advances to play San Pedro at 2:30 p.m. Thursday at South Gate Park. Top-seeded San Pedro is the four-time defending City champion and has won 11 titles.

Enea scored El Camino Real's only run in the second inning. She led off with a single, then moved to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Daryn Rose and scored on Kelly Oswald's single to center field.

After that, the game turned into a pitching duel between Miller (three hits, three strikeouts) and Birmingham's Pauline Morquecho (three hits, five strikeouts).

From that point, no runner from either team advanced past first base and only three batters reached base. The game ended in only 55 minutes.

For Morquecho and Birmingham's three other seniors, it was a disappointing end to a solid four-year career. Birmingham won the Invitational title when the group of Morquecho, Valerie Montenegro, Brecken Bronner and Carla Arreola were freshmen in 2001 and improved upon that each year.

This season, Birmingham (24-9) set a school record for wins and received its highest seeding in school history in the City Section playoffs.

``It's hard to end my career like this because I really, really wanted to win,'' Morquecho said. ``They're very good hitters and I was just trying to make them hit ground balls. But they ended up winning on two ground balls that went through the infield. ... That's life though. It's something we'll have to live with.''

El Camino Real's run in the second inning was the first earned run Morquecho had given up in 43 innings. Montenegro was the only batter from either team to have multiple hits. She was 2 for 3, giving her 59 hits this season.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com