EXTRA INNINGS PREP SOFTBALL NEWS AND FEATURES FROM AROUND THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY ... AND BEYOND.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne; Gerry Gittelson contributed.

WHO'S HOT

CRESCENTA VALLEY 

The Falcons have long been the Pacific League's dominant team, but they looked vulnerable early in the season while trying to work six freshmen into the lineup. Glendale ended the Falcons' 15-game league winning streak March 31 with a 2-1 victory, which might have been the best thing that could've happened for Crescenta Valley.

Since that loss, Crescenta Valley has won nine of 10, the only loss a 1-0 decision April 27 to No. 3 Oaks Christian of Westlake Village. The Eagles' run also includes a 4-3 victory over Oaks Christian in the first game of the doubleheader and Tuesday's 7-2 pounding of Glendale.

``We just kept making changes until we got it right,'' freshman first baseman Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo said. ``There's a little pressure (because of Crescenta Valley's tradition), but I think we've all just tried to focus on what we can do and what we're capable of.''

Viers-Gordillo, who went 3 for 4 with an RBI double in the victory over Glendale, is among starters who have switched positions since the first meeting with the Nitros. Viers-Gordillo played in center field at the beginning of the year.

C.V.'s other standout freshmen include Laney DePompa (7 HRs), the younger sister of former Verdugo Hills High of Tujunga standout Deena DePompa and leadoff batter Caitlyn Cox (.400), who was called up from junior varsity.

KACEE COX, ROYAL

Sophomore designated hitter has a five-game hitting streak for Royal of Simi Valley. During that span, she is hitting .529 (9 for 17) with 10 RBI.

DANIELLE AUSTIN, PROVIDENCE

Junior catcher has a six-game hitting streak for Providence of Burbank, going 14 for 18 with 11 RBI. Austin is batting .543 with a .943 slugging percentage this season.

Austin, senior shortstop Liz Roche and sophomore pitcher Sarah Biggs are big reasons why Providence (14-3, 6-0) has outscored its six Liberty League opponents 52-0.

ANDI RAMIREZ, ROYAL

The BYU-bound shortstop is batting .615 with four RBI and seven runs in her past four games. Ramirez, Royal's leadoff batter, has raised her average from .444 to .478. She has scored a team-high 30 runs in 21 games and leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage and hits.

LANCASTER

After opening 2-2 in Golden League play, the Eagles have won six consecutive league games, outscoring opponents 46-14. A 3-1 victory Tuesday over Quartz Hill gave the Eagles sole possession of first place with two games remaining.

Lancaster, which opened in 1997, has never won a league title.

SLOUBER HAS 40 STRIKEOUTS

Montclair Prep of Panorama City pitcher Kirsten Slouber struck out 40 Tuesday in a game against Crossroads of Santa Monica. The game was postponed by darkness after 17 innings with the score tied 1-1.

Slouber's total is tied for fifth in the all-time California record book. She can add to that total Monday, when the game is resumed at 3:15 p.m. at Franklin Field at the Mid-Valley Softball Complex.

The state record is held by former UCLA star De De Weiman of Gahr of Cerritos, who struck out 53 batters in a 1-0, 29-inning loss to St. Joseph of Lakewood as a freshman in 1986. The winning pitcher in that game was UCLA great Lisa Fernandez, also a freshman, who struck out 48.

Slouber has signed with Loyola Marymount, but she is not expected to pitch for the Lions.

KEEPING TABS

Valley College's softball team, almost entirely San Fernando Valley high school standouts, has qualified for the Southern California Regional Playoffs for the first time.

The Monarchs (27-12-2) were seeded No. 13 and will open against host Cypress College, the No. 4 seed, Saturday at noon.

Former local players on Valley's roster are Carla Arrelola (Birmingham of Lake Balboa), Susana Garcia (Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills), Deyssy Esquivel (Monroe of North Hills), Leilani Madrigal (San Fernando), Pauline Morquecho (Birmingham), Lorena Arreguin (San Fernando), Alexandra Velasquez (San Fernando), Brecken Bronner (Birmingham), Barbara Reguengo (North Hollywood), Amanda Salazar (Monroe), Claudia Piazano (Birmingham), Sandra Chavez (Brimingham) and Brenda Paniagua (San Fernando).

Valley, which suspended its program from 1990 to '95, was 6-32 overall and 1-20 in 2002, the year before coach Frankie Garcia took over. Garcia, who played three years in the Women's Professional Fastpitch (WPF) league, led the team to 10 wins in 2003, 15 in 2004 and 27 this season. ...

Former Oaks Christian star Ashlee Freeman, was chosen the America East Conference Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week.

Freeman, a sophomore at Boston University, went 3-0 last week, allowing just 13 hits, five earned runs and four walks, while striking out 16 in 19 innings of work. Her ERA for the week was 1.84. She picked up wins against conference opponents Vermont, Maine and Stony Brook. On the season, Freeman is 11-8 with a 2.59 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 132.2 innings.

LEAGUE UPDATES

FOOTHILL

Valencia will be missing five starters Saturday when it plays No. 7 Thousand Oaks in the ninth-place semifinals of the Thousand Oaks tournament. Four seniors - pitcher Courtney Baughman, catcher Mallory DiFatta, first baseman Breanne Javier and second baseman Whitney Lowe - will miss the game so they can attend the senior prom. Third baseman Danielle Maricle likely will miss the game to take the SAT in the morning.

GOLDEN

Quartz Hill senior shortstop Sarah Kahn is one of the hardest-working players around. Kahn works 15 hours a week as a therapy aide at Athletic Injury Management in Lancaster.

``I can't really remember the last time I watched television,'' Kahn said. ``Pretty much I get up, go to school, play softball, go to work and come home to do my homework. ... I figure it's good to get used to how things are going to be when I'm older, now, while I still have the support of my parents.''

Kahn, one of the top defensive shortstops in the region, said she'll likely attend and play for Cal State Northridge next year.

MARMONTE

Newbury Park extended its winning streak to 13 games with victories this week over Agoura, Hoover of Glendale, Tesoro of Las Flores, Moorpark and Westlake and climbed into a tie for second place with Thousand Oaks in the Marmonte League. The Gators play T.O. at 6 p.m. Thursday.

Six Newbury Park players are batting better than .300, led by Caitlin Bailey's .450 average and 22 RBI.

MISSION

Chaminade of West Hills has been a difficult team to figure out this year. The Eagles beat No. 4 Valencia 1-0 March 17 and No. 8 El Camino Real 1-0 March 9, but they lost to L.A. Baptist of North Hills 4-0 on April 9. Coach Jon Ellinghouse looks to senior shortstop Kim Milkovich for leadership.

``Her senior leadership has been huge,'' Ellinghouse said. ``And her bat is really starting to come through now. At shortstop she's very solid defensively.''

OLYMPIC

It has been a tough year for Paraclete of Lancaster (7-12, 1-5), but senior shortstop Jamie Prather continues to shine.

``Almost every umpire up here has come up and told me she's the best shortstop in the (Antelope) Valley,'' Paraclete coach Margaret Neill said. ``She gets rid of the ball so quick, and she's just so smooth. ... Her numbers aren't the greatest, but I think that's because she's trying so hard to carry the team.''

CAPTION(S):

photo, 4 boxes

Photo:

From left, Crescenta Valley softball players Nicole Duncan, Zarah Montes, Emily Heineman, Lainey DePompa, Ashleigh Viers-Gordillo and Kaitlyn Cox.

Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer

Box:

(1) TOP 10

(2) SEVEN-DAY FORECAST

(3) STATALICIOUS

(4) HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE