GIORDANO OVERCOMES INJURY TO START FOR EAST ALL-STARS.

Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff Writer

This was the way all-star games should be.

Superb pitching, impressive hitting, stellar fielding, and even a thrilling finish were all part of the 11th Annual Bernie Milligan Daily News All-Star Softball Game on Wednesday at Cal State Northridge.

Moorpark High School's Tracey Milburn was the hero, knocking in the winning run off Saugus' Nicole Giordano with two outs in the ninth inning for the West's 3-2 win over the East.

Giordano, suffering from an injured knee that almost prevented her from playing, started the game and pitched four near-perfect innings, allowing one hit. She re-entered in the eighth and was not as effective, giving up two runs in two innings.

``I thought I pitched pretty well considering I hadn't played in a while,'' Giordano said. ``It looked like we were going to get that last out but the ball got away.''

On the final play, Sylmar catcher Karina Avedano lost the relay throw from center field when Miller slid into her.

With the game on the line, Milburn wasn't sure if she was nervous or not.

``I didn't really think about it,'' she said. ``I like hitting when the pressure's on but this team was different because I hadn't proven myself. It was really an honor to be playing with so many great players and to be picked. I was just happy to be here.''

Milburn had some making up to do. She grounded out weakly in her first at-bat, was called out for leaving first too early after reaching on a walk, and allowed Verdugo's Rian Standley's liner to sail past her for a ninth-inning double.

``I had never played left field before,'' Milburn said. ``I was sort of out of position, and that was my fault. I always play center. I wanted to make up for all the bad things I did.''

Jennifer Sharron from Thousand Oaks High, who started and re-entered in the ninth to get the win, was picked as the Most Valuable Player.

Sharron was an all-star standout for the second day in a row. On Tuesday she was the winning pitcher in the Ventura County All-Star Game. Sharron, 24-4 during the regular season, will attend Notre Dame next year.

Regardless of the outcome, the players were excited to compete against the best in the area.

``It's really fun to be here,'' the East team's Tracy Passafiume from Saugus said. ``All the best players are here so it's an honor to be involved.''

Other Santa Clarita players on the East team were Saugus' Shannon McRoy and Hart's Vanessa Raschella.

``We know a lot of these girls from playing aginst them and from playing with them on travel ball,'' said McRoy, who played third base. ``It's a nice way to end the season.''

Said Raschella: ``It's an honor because all the girls playing are the best girls around. It makes you feelgood. When I found out I made the team I was really excited.''

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Photo

Photo: The West's Missy Miller scores as the East catcher Karina Avedano loses the ball.

Terri Thuente / Daily News