PREP SOFTBALL: IT'S A CLASSIC CONFRONTATION HART-VERDUGO HILLS STRONG OPENER.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer NEWHALL - The Hart High 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 enters the season searching for a dependable pitcher and hoping new players in key positions can make an impact. But the rebuilding Indians, barely resembling last year's team that went 25-5, don't have the luxury of tiptoeing into the season. They'll open against high-powered Verdugo Hills of Tujunga in the first round of the annual Hart Classic tournament at 11 a.m. today at Central Park in Saugus. Verdugo Hills, a City Section school, is on a mission to prove itself. The Dons, having failed to advance past the second round of the City Championships despite excellent regular-season records the past two seasons (24-4-1 last year), have upgraded their nonleague schedule and ``begged'' to get into the Hart tournament, 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. Hart coach Cathy Giordano. Verdugo Hills, featuring returning pitchers Danielle Burch (11-1, 1.03 ERA) and Jessica McGiviney (11-3, 1.19 ERA) and sluggers Laura Hovestreydt and Dena DePompa, certainly don't want to waste time proving they belong among the elite. Hart probably will start right-handed pitcher Noun 1. right-handed pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who throws with the right hand right-hander baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played Robyn Kontra, a sophomore. She's the only pitcher on the team with varsity experience - eight innings' worth, last year - but she comes from good stock. Her sister, Lindsey, starred at Hart and accepted a scholarship to Oregon this season. A key development for Hart will be Nicole Delfino's adjustment from third base - where she earned All-Foothill League honors last year - to catcher. Giordano believes Delfino will be a solid catcher, but as good as last year's Sara Dean, now at Auburn? If Hart beats Verdugo Hills in the first round, the Indians could see Golden League power Highland of Palmdale (16-14) in the second round at 3 p.m. Hart has won the tournament two years in a row, but that isn't a guarantee this time. Longtime powers El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
Hart beat Thousand Oaks 5-0 in last year's final. Thousand Oaks, which eventually won the Division II championship (over California) last June, is loaded again this season. Right-hander Megan Spehar is an excellent pitcher and shortstop Jenny Cochran has committed to Temple. The Lancers lanc·er n. 1. A cavalryman armed with a lance. 2. A member of a regiment originally armed with lances. 3. lancers (used with a sing. verb) a. A kind of quadrille. b. are on the opposite bracket from Hart in the tournament. There are some special rules in the tournament. A mercy rule A mercy rule, also well known by the slightly less polite term slaughter rule (or, less commonly, knockout rule and skunk rule), brings a sports event to an early end when one team has a very large and presumably insurmountable lead over the other team. will be in effect - a team ahead by eight or more runs after five innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. will be declared the winner. If the score is tied after seven innings or after 90 minutes, the international tiebreaker tie·break·er n. An additional contest or period of play designed to establish a winner among tied contestants. Also called tiebreak. tie - last out goes to second base to start the inning - will be in effect. HART SOFTBALL CLASSIC Where: Central Park in Saugus When: Saturday and March 9 Format: Sixteen teams, each guaranteed four games in a championship- bracket, single-elimination format. Teams to watch: Hart, Thousand Oaks, California Thousand Oaks, commonly referred to as "T.O." by residents, is a city in southeastern Ventura County, California, in the United States. It was named after the many oak trees that grace the area, and the city seal is adorned with an oak. , Verdugo Hills, El Camino Real, Harvard-Westlake, Highland, Westlake CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (ran in AV edition only) Nikki Secrease and Highland are competing in the Hart softball tournament beginning this weekend at Central Park in Saugus. Jeff Goldwater/Staff Photographer Box: HART SOFTBALL CLASSIC (see text) |
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