FAMILY AFFAIR SISTERS MAKE MARK ON THE MOUND AT MOORPARK, CAL LUTHERAN.Byline: Kirby Lee Special to the Daily News MOORPARK - For the time being, sisters Olivia and Lizzy Chacon can only imagine a day when they are able to play for the same 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' team. For now, Olivia, a Cal Lutheran University junior, and Lizzy, a Moorpark High sophomore, are forging their own identities as pitchers on their respective teams. Olivia has been a catalyst for Cal Lutheran's run toward its second Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference The Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) is a college athletic conference that operates in the NCAA's Division III. It consists of eleven small private schools which are located in Southern California and organized into eight athletic programs. title in three years. Olivia, a 2004 all-SCIAC selection, has compiled an 11-4 record for the Regals (17-9), who are 7-0 in conference play. In Olivia's freshman season, Cal Lutheran finished 24-20 and won the conference title, its best season since becoming an NCAA NCAA abbr. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division III
Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. member. Lizzy is following a family legacy at Moorpark High started by her sister. Lizzy, who earned all-Marmonte League second-team honors as a sophomore, is a third-year starter for the Musketeers (6-2). Lizzy was aware of the comparisons between the siblings at Moorpark from the day she stepped foot on the softball diamond as a freshman. ``I have to kind of live up to her name,'' Lizzy said of Olivia. ``She was great and I am proud of her. She is my role model and inspiration. I started playing just because of her.'' The Chacons' parents, George and Laura, don't play favorites when it comes to their daughters. They do their best to attend each of their games. On days with conflicts, one parent attends each game. Softball has long been a part of the Chacon family. George Chacon coached both Olivia and Lizzy on youth teams. The family's backyard has been transformed into a makeshift training facility complete with a batting cage Noun 1. batting cage - a movable screen placed behind home base to catch balls during batting practice cage baseball equipment - equipment used in playing baseball , pitching machine A pitching machine is a machine that automatically pitches a baseball to a batter at different speeds and styles. Most machines are hand-fed, but there are some that automatically feed. , mound and lights for night workouts. ``It was either a pool or a batting cage,'' Olivia said. ``It was an easy choice. We're pretty serious and always have been about softball.'' There has always been a tight bond between the sisters despite the four- year age difference. Olivia chose to attend nearby Cal Lutheran in Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. , a 10-minute drive away, primarily to stay close to home. The opportunity to play under Debby Day - a pitcher on the University of Arizona's 1991 NCAA championship team who also coached the Arizona Heat The Arizona Heat is a women's softball team based in Tucson, Arizona. Since the 2004 season, they have played as a member of National Pro Fastpitch. The team's home games are played at historic Hi Corbett Field. women's professional softball team during its inaugural season - was also a deciding factor. There's also an Arizona coaching connection at Moorpark with first-year coach Meaghan Stotts, a Moorpark graduate who played at the University of Arizona (body, education) University of Arizona - The University was founded in 1885 as a Land Grant institution with a three-fold mission of teaching, research and public service. . Stotts served as a graduate assistant at Arizona in 2003 under Athens U.S. Olympic coach Mike Candrea Mike Candrea (born August 29, 1955) is the head softball coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He is also the head coach of the USA National Softball team. Collegiate Coaching Record Candrea coached at the junior college level prior to arriving at UA. . Day is an instructor with Candrea's Southwest Softball Camps. Although, Olivia lives in the Cal Lutheran dorms, she visits her parents' home several nights a week for dinner. The washing machine (storage) washing machine - An old-style 14-inch hard disk in a floor-standing cabinet. So called because of the size of the cabinet and the "top-loading" access to the media packs - and, of course, they were always set on "spin cycle". also is a convenient commodity. ``I like being independent and having the life of a college student,'' Olivia said. ``Cal Lutheran is far enough away but close enough where I can come home.'' The visits are sometimes unexpected, as Lizzy can attest. She has been caught sleeping in her sister's room on several occasions on unannounced visits by Olivia. Although Lizzy has her own room, she prefers her sister's bed because it's larger, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Olivia. ``I can always tell when she's been in my room because everything is a mess,'' Olivia said. Lizzy has become more adept at predicting when her sister will drop by over the last three years. ``She comes by when she gets desperate for food,'' Lizzy said. The sisters are similar in stature at 5-foot-5, but differ in personality and pitching styles. Lizzy is outgoing while Olivia is quiet and reserved. On the mound, Lizzy is a rise-ball pitcher while Olivia utilizes a drop-down curve. There's no argument when it comes to academics. Both admit that Olivia is the more conscientious student. Moorpark teachers frequently remind Lizzy of her sister's academic excellence. ``I was a pretty good student and I am sure she feels a little bit of pressure,'' Olivia said. ``She wants to get a scholarship somewhere. For me, I love to play softball but initially I wanted to go to school and really focus on school.'' It seems to be rubbing off on Lizzy, who is enrolled in Moorpark's health science academy with designs on pursuing a medical career or becoming a teacher. It's too early to tell if Lizzy will follow her sister's lead and head to Cal Lutheran after she graduates from Moorpark. ``I went to Moorpark and she was kind of destined des·tine tr.v. des·tined, des·tin·ing, des·tines 1. To determine beforehand; preordain: a foolish scheme destined to fail; a film destined to become a classic. 2. to go to Moorpark,'' Olivia said of her sister. ``It seems that she is always following my lead.'' DYNAMIC DUO
Dynamic Duo (다이나믹 듀오) is a Korean hip hop duo, made up of members Choiza and Gaeko (former members of the trio, CBMass). Name: Olivia Chacon School: Cal Lutheran Year: Junior Position: Pitcher Name: Lizzy Chacon School: Moorpark Year: Junior Position: Pitcher CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: The Chacon sisters, Olivia, left, and Lizzy, are two of the area's top pitchers, Olivia at Cal Lutheran University and Lizzy at Moorpark High. Gus Ruelas/Staff Photographer Box: DYNAMIC DUO (see text) |
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