EAST RALLIES WITH STAR POWER; WEST LEAD ERASED; DEL REAL MVP : EAST 10, WEST 5.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Melanie Williams was on a search for nothing. When she found it, she knew the East All-Stars would be fine Monday at the 13th annual Daily News All-Star Softball Game.

Williams was on the lookout for concern after the East stars fell behind by four runs to the West after two innings. Yet when Valencia High's senior shortstop glanced around the dugout at Cal State Northridge, all she saw was confidence.

``We weren't worried at all,'' Williams said. ``I mean, we knew if we just kept playing, things would be fine. We have a bunch of great players on this team and we knew we could do well.''

That they did. Over the next two innings, Williams and the East pounced on the West for eight runs. After the offense took back control, East pitchers Patty Del Real (Kennedy) and Crescenta Valley's Melinda Moulden stifled the West over the next seven innings, allowing just one run in an easy 10-5 East win.

Del Real, overlooked most of the year in a season in which dominating pitchers like Maureen LeCocq, Jodie Cox, Ashley Redlin and Meredith Cervenka captured most of the attention, was named the game MVP after giving up two hits and no runs in three impressive innings.

Cox, Quartz Hills' talented pitcher/hitter, finished with two hits and three RBI for the East. Amanda Ivey (Burbank, two-run double), Williams (RBI double) and Latisha Hernandez (Paraclete, RBI single) also enjoyed big days.

For the West, LeCocq (Chaminade) had a three-run double in the second, and also pitched two scoreless innings to open the game.

Amid all the offensive power, Del Real managed to have the biggest impact. When she took over in the third, the two teams had already combined for 12 runs.

``It was a game of momentum, we had ours early, then they had their swing, then it settled down and became a regular softball game,'' said West co-coach Pete Ackermann, from Newbury Park. ``(Del Real) came in and shut us down. That was our chance to get back in the game, but she did a great job.''

The East pounded Canoga Park's Jenny Pitillo for seven runs in the third and fourth. Cox started the rampage with a two-run single in the third to slice the West lead to 4-2. In the fourth, Ivey's two-run double made it 4-4, then Hernandez singled to give the East a 5-4 lead. After Williams followed with a RBI double to make it 6-4, Pitillo was lifted for LeCocq.

East co-coach Coy Ray wasn't surprised. Even though the West was touted for its potent pitching staff, he knew he had a team that could hit and defend.

``We knew that just watching them at practice,'' Ray said. ``This is an impressive group of players, and they all have such great attitudes. It was a pleasure to work with them.''

Ackermann was a believer by the end of the game.

``I got so impressed by all the talent that we had that I forgot about what they had,'' Ackermann said. ``But I was impressed by what I saw today.''

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) Amanda Ivey of Burbank slides home safely for the East team, avoiding the tag of West catcher Carina Leon (Canoga Park).

(2--Color) East second baseman Amanda Ivey makes a running catch in the third inning of the Daily News All-Star Softball Game.

John McCoy/Daily News