PREP SOFTBALL; NEWBURY PARK WILL HAVE TOUGH TIME REPEATING TOUGH MARMONTE LEAGUE HAS SEVERAL LEGIT CONTENDERS.Byline: Chris Cocoles Staff Writer NEWBURY PARK - Newbury Park is not the only 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 with a good chance to win the Marmonte League The Marmonte League is a high school sports league primarily made up of schools from Ventura County. The Marmonte Leauge is part of the CIF Southern Section. Click here to view the league schedule. championship. The Panthers won the 1999 title and reached the Southern Section semifinals under lofty expectations. But there were heavy graduation losses. And with so many quality teams in the Marmonte League, the Panthers are just another good club that figures to contend. Newbury Park doesn't seem to mind. ``It's different being on the other side of the opposing team. Last year we were the team to beat,'' said senior infielder in·field·er n. Baseball A player assigned to the infield. Noun 1. infielder - (baseball) a person who plays a position in the infield Oli Keohohou, the Panthers' top returnee re·turn·ee n. 1. One who returns, as from a journey or to school after a long absence. 2. A person returning from military duty overseas. See Usage Note at -ee1. . ``And this year, we actually have to (act like) `OK, what's (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. ) going to do. What's Westlake going to do.' We have to do it more than we did last year. Because we know we can be beaten. We knew we could we beaten last year, too. We also knew how good we were.'' Lynn Baum knows how good Newbury Park is. She's in her first year as the Panthers' head coach but was in the opposing dugout dugout: see canoe. last year assisting Gary Walin of Thousand Oaks. Now Baum has the task of helping the Panthers defend their championship and fight off challengers such as Thousand Oaks, Westlake and Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. . ``We had those same expectations at Thousand Oaks,'' Baum said. ``And I expect the same things out of these kids. They've always been the toughest competitors for T.O. And I expect them to maintain that.'' Keohohou projects to continue her status as one of the Marmonte League's most feared hitters. Splitting time between shortstop and first base, she was inserted into the leadoff spot last year when opponents constantly pitched around her. Batting almost .500 as a junior, Keohohou doubled and tripled in the Panthers' 4-1 win over Royal to open league play on Tuesday. ``Hopefully, she'll at least see pitches the first time up. Because they pitch around the rest of the time,'' Baum said. ``It's got to be frustrating frus·trate tr.v. frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates 1. a. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: for her because she's such a good hitter.'' The Panthers have some steady offensive performers batting behind Keohohou. Veterans like catcher Amber Mastrioanni, 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 Kamala kamala an anticestodal agent derived from the plant Mallotus philippinensis; now replaced by better and safer compounds. Kiffe and outfielder Melissa Mastracco are all capable of producing with the bat. Varsity newcomers Jennifer Dilley at first base and freshman Sarah Scott Sarah Scott, née Robinson (September 21, 1720 - November 3, 1795) was an English novelist, translator, and social reformer. Her father, Matthew Robinson, and her mother, Elizabeth Robinson, were both from distinguished families, and Sarah was one of nine children who at second are making strides. The Panthers, who took a 5-0 record into Thursday's showdown against Thousand Oaks, will be even stronger when junior outfielder Nancy Pabon returns from a basketball-related calf injury. Newbury Park has a seasoned pitcher in junior Katie Stokx and a promising second starter in Chrissy Zappia. All the ingredients are there to make another championship run. ``We're going to need to produce at the time we have runners on base. We're going to have to execute bunts at the right time and go for one run at a time and have timely hitting,'' Baum said. The general consensus among the Panthers is they know the league championship won't be won on their reputation. ``I'm pretty sure teams think that we're not as strong. And we're not. It's a fact. And we know we're not and that drives us to work harder,'' Keohohou said. ``We can be good. We can be as good as we want to be.'' AT A GLANCE Team: Newbury Park softball Coach: Lynn Baum 1999 record: 24-8 overall, 10-2 (first place in Marmonte League) Key returnees: Senior IF Oli Keohohou; Jr. P Katie Stokx; Jr. C Amber Mastrioanni; Jr. OF Melissa Mastracoo; Sr. 3B Kamala Kiffe. Key newcomers: Fr. 2B Sarah Scott; Soph. P Chrissy Zappia; Jr. 1B Jennifer Dilley. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: Newbury Park's Oli Keohohou is such a feared hitter that many teams scheme to pitch around her. The senior infielder is the Panthers' top returnee. Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer Box: AT A GLANCE (see text) |
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