ON A TITLE RUN; REBELS SEEK SOFTBALL GLORY.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Daily News Staff WriterYou couldn't blame Quartz Hill High for being a bit intimidated by Cerritos, which meets the unseeded Rebels in the Southern Section Division II softball championship Friday (7:30 p.m.) at Lakewood Mayfair Park. Streaking Cerritos (25-5) has won 18 straight, including a 1-0 regular-season win over Division I finalist Mater Dei Mater Dei is Latin for "Mother of God", referring to the Virgin Mary. The term has been used to name various institutions, often Catholic, including:
But Quartz Hill's uphill road to the finals already has been filled with many curves and bumps. After surviving a nervous 1-0 second-round win over heralded Hart, a dramatic 14-inning quarterfinal nod against favored Santa Maria Santa Maria, city, Brazil Santa Maria (sän`tə mərē`ə), city (1991 pop. 217,592), Rio Grande do Sul state, S Brazil. It is a major railroad terminus and the site of an important military base. Righetti, and Tuesday's 3-2 last-inning comeback over Riverside Jurupa Valley, the Rebels (23-3-2) feel nothing can stop them now. ``We've been playing extremely well,'' said coach Coy Ray. ``I really don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. too much about Cerritos because I don't like to scout too far ahead - we've been too worried about who we're playing right now. But we'll be ready.'' Quartz Hill's Jodie Cox (21-3, 0.30 ERA) will start against either Jaime O'Neal (15-2, 0.21) or Jessica van der Linden (9-3, 0.25). ``Ever since I was young I've wanted to play for the CIF (1) (Common Intermediate Format) A standard video format used in videoconferencing. CIF formats are defined by their resolution, and standards both above and below the original resolution have been established. The original CIF is also known as Full CIF (FCIF). championship,'' said Cox. ``It kept getting closer, second round, third round, fourth round. Now it's here.'' Cox, a junior left-hander who was 3 for 3 with a triple against Jurupa Valley, has established herself as perhaps the premier all-around player in the region. She has 13 shutouts, 242 strikeouts - and just 33 walks - in 189 innings, allowing only 89 hits. As a hitter Cox is batting .448 with eight home runs, 23 extra-base hits, 30 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in , and 28 runs. Third baseman third baseman n. Baseball The infielder stationed near third base. Noun 1. third baseman - (baseball) the person who plays third base third sacker Sarah Moore (.354), catcher Olaya Salazar (.330), center fielder Kellie Cox (.311), designated hitter designated hitter n. Baseball Abbr. DH A player designated at the start of a game to bat instead of the pitcher in the lineup. Noun 1. Jamie Booth (.306), shortstop Amber Slaton (.293), and right fielder right fielder n. Baseball The player who defends right field. Noun 1. right fielder - the person who plays right field outfielder - (baseball) a person who plays in the outfield Penny Wood (.260) are Quartz Hill's other top producers. Mission Valley League champion Cerritos, coached by Kim Dinhart, features several capable hitters: Brandi Stuart (.390, four home runs, 30 stolen bases), Nichole Maddox (.430, 11 extra-base hits, 18 RBI), Julie Hoshizaki (.350, 12 stolen bases), and Lauren Johnson (.360). The playoffs have seen the Dons beat California (4-0), Cypress (7-1), La Palma La Pal·ma An island of Spain in the northwest Canary Islands. Kennedy (1-0) and defending division champion Woodbridge (2-1). Jodie Cox figures one intangible Quartz Hill has going its way is teamwork. ``This team has really pulled together,'' she said. ``In tough times we've always been able to pull through, and we always pick each other up. I wasn't real happy with the way I pitched against Jurupa Valley (seven innings, one earned run earned run n. Baseball A run scored without the aid of an error, used in computing earned run averages. Noun 1. earned run - a run that was not scored as the result of an error by the other team , five hits, nine strikeouts). I felt like I wasn't as sharp but we got the job done. That's what championship teams do, and I've got eight good players behind me.'' Quartz Hill's only other appearance in a section softball final was in 1991, when the Rebels lost 2-0 to La Mirada in the 3A championship. SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II SOFTBALL FINALS QUARTZ HILL vs. CERRITOS Where: Lakewood Mayfair Park When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Coaches: Coy Ray and Ben Meyer, Quartz Hill; Kim Dinhart, Cerritos Records: Quartz Hill 23-3-2; Cerritos 25-5 Nicknames: Quartz Hill Rebels; Cerritos Dons League affiliations: Quartz Hill, Golden League; Cerritos, Mission Valley League Probable starting pitchers: Quartz Hill, Jodie Cox (21-3, 0.30 ERA); Cerritos, Jaime O'Neal (15-2, 0.21) or Jessica van der Linden (9-3, 0.25) Fast fact: Quartz Hill has been declared the home team. CAPTION(S): Photo, 2 Boxes PHOTO Quartz Hill's Jodie Cox takes her team into the Southern Section Division II championship on Friday. Gus Ruelas/Daily News BOX: (1) SOUTHERN SECTION DIVISION II SOFTBALL FINALS (See text) (2) HOW THEY GOT THERE Game results for Quartz Hill and Cerritos, who meet Friday for the CIF Southern Section CIF Southern Section (commonly abbreviated as CIFSS) is the largest of the ten sections which comprise the California Interscholastic Federation. Its membership includes most public and private high schools in Orange, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Santa Barbara, Division II softball title. |
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