SOFTBALL: LITTLEROCK'S BIG-NAME PLAYER SHE'S THE STAR, NO MATTER WHAT SHE'S CALLED.Byline: RAMONA SHELBURNE Ramona Shelburne is an American sports journalist currently writing for the Los Angeles Daily News. Shelburne was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She attended El Camino Real High School in Woodland Hills, California where she was a class valedictorian. AND HEATHER GRIPP Staff Writers Gracie Perez is a favorite to be chosen prom queen at Littlerock High. Nickie Perez, a senior pitcher at Littlerock, is a favorite to repeat as Golden League Most Valuable Player. Confused yet? On the 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' field, Gracie Nicole Perez goes by ``Nickie'' because ``Gracie is too girly-girl for softball.'' At school, her friends and classmates Classmates can refer to either:
Littlerock softball coach Sarah Adams might have found the best solution. ``I just call her Perez,'' Adams said. ``It's easier.'' To opponents, Perez is a nightmare. She was the Golden League MVP (Multimedia Video Processor) A high-speed DSP chip from Texas Instruments, introduced in 1994. Officially introduced as the TMS320C80, it combines RISC technology with the functionality of four DSPs on one chip. last season after leading Littlerock to its first playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. appearance. She might be more valuable this season. ``She put us where we're at,'' Adams said. ``Without her, we wouldn't have gotten to the playoffs last season. We had a lot of talent last year, though, and this year we're at a lower scale. So if we're able to get to the playoffs again, I think it'll be an even bigger accomplishment.'' Perez has had to win games with her bat and in the pitcher's circle this season. Last year, outfielder Tori Beaudette gave the Lobos another big bat in the lineup A criminal investigation technique in which the police arrange a number of individuals in a row before a witness to a crime and ask the witness to identify which, if any, of the individuals committed the crime. . Perez is batting a team-high .495, and she went 3 for 3 with the winning 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 in Tuesday's victory over Palmdale. She's 12-6 in the circle, including a 13-strikeout no-hitter two weeks ago against La Salle La Salle, city (1990 pop. 9,717), La Salle co., N Ill., on the Illinois River; settled 1830, inc. 1852. It forms a tricity unit with Peru and Oglesby. Corn, wheat, and soybeans are grown, and cattle and hogs are raised. of Pasadena in the consolation championship of the High Desert Classic. ``It's a lot different this year,'' Perez said. ``We had a lot of talent last year. This year, we all have to come together to win games.'' The biggest difference might be Littlerock's defense. Last season, the Lobos were among the strongest defensive teams in the league. This season, they've been shaky. ``We haven't backed her up very well defensively,'' Adams said. ``I can see it affect her pitching sometimes, too. But she's such a competitor, she's still been able to carry us.'' Perez would like to play softball in college, but she hasn't received scholarship offers. Without one, she might head to Cal State Fullerton to study biology. A career in science interests her. She volunteers at the Exotic Feline feline of, or pertaining to, members of the family Felidae. See also cat. feline agranulocytosis see feline panleukopenia (below). feline actinic dermatitis see solar dermatitis. Breeding Compound in Rosamond several times a month, feeding and caring for exotic cats such as tigers and jaguars. For now, Perez is focused on the softball season. ``I try to play every game like it's my last,'' she said. Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com BASEBALL: Palmdale benefits from a fountain of youth Fountain of Youth legendary fountain of eternal youth. [World Legend: Brewer Dictionary, 432] See : Unattainability Team filled with underclassmen takes surprising lead in league race The team goal was modest. With a new coach and a lineup loaded with underclassmen, the Palmdale High baseball team tried to stay realistic. ``I was just hoping we'd be able to make the playoffs,'' first-year coach Craig Mesler said. The Falcons are not only well on their way to securing a postseason berth, they lead the Golden League and are the league's only representative in the Southern Section Div. III top-10 rankings. ``I'm as surprised as anybody we're doing as well as we are,'' Mesler said. ``It's not like we didn't have any talent, I just didn't have as much as some of the other teams who had more players coming back. We feel fortunate.'' Palmdale, which finished third in the Golden League last season, has won eight of its past 10 games and has beaten every league team. Until an extra-inning loss to Littlerock on Wednesday, the Falcons (10-4, 7-1) were undefeated in league. Mesler notes that the rest of the league has presented a significant challenge to his team. ``It's not easy,'' he said. ``The games we've played - except for last week - they've all been close. I told the kids when we went 5-0 in the first round of league that we could easily be 1-4. They know that. We're a young team, it was supposed to take us a while.'' Palmdale started the season 2-2 and then won six in a row. The team's youth has been a key to the Falcons' success rather than a hindrance hin·drance n. 1. a. The act of hindering. b. The condition of being hindered. 2. One that hinders; an impediment. See Synonyms at obstacle. . Outfielder Trevor Bloom, one of the team's eight sophomores, is Palmdale's leading hitter. He entered the week batting .459 with four home runs and 20 RBI, all team highs. Sophomore 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 Sean Sweeney has a .389 average. Freshman Mike Tonkin threw a no-hitter last week against Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley . The youngsters have gotten help from a few talented veterans. Senior shortstop Kyle <noinclude></noinclude> ''This article or section is being rewritten at One derivation of the surname is from the Scottish Highland word caol, 'channel', or 'strait'. There are other possible derivations (see below). Eveland is living up to his reputation as one of the region's elite. In addition to making difficult plays in the field look easy, Eveland is batting .314 and is Palmdale's closer. He hadn't allowed an 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 until Wednesday, when he suffered his first loss in four decisions. Senior Chris Bloom and junior Tyreace House are others batting better than .300. Senior Josh Lord is 5-0 with a 1.83 ERA. ``It's been a team effort,'' Mesler said. ``I think that's been a big part of it. They all contribute.'' Heather Gripp, (818)713-3607 heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 5 boxes Photo: (1) Gracie, or Nickie, Perez is trying to lead Littlerock to a second successive playoff berth. Gideon Rubin/Daily News (2) Palmdale freshman Mike Tonkin threw a no-hitter last week against Antelope Valley. Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer Box: (1) LEADING OFF (2) STANDINGS (3) COMING UP (4) BOYS: GAME OF THE WEEK (5) GIRLS: GAME OF THE WEEK |
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