SOFTBALL: LUPACCHINI LOOMS LARGE FOR CHAMINADE EAGLES ARE ERRORLESS IN VICTORY OVER NOTRE DAME CHAMINADE 1, NOTRE DAME 0.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer Starting well and finishing strongly is an awesome 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' combination. It certainly worked for pitcher Christina Lupacchini and her Chaminade High of West Hills teammates Wednesday. Lupacchini drove in what turned out to be the game's only run in the top of the first inning against Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks. Then the junior right-hander limited the Knights to four hits, retiring the last nine and 12 of the final 13 for a 1-0 Mission League victory at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park. Chaminade (12-7, 7-0) has the inside track for the league championship, one game ahead of Alemany of Mission Hills and two in front of third-place Notre Dame with three games remaining. ``This was an important game and we let our hearts carry us,'' said Lupacchini (12-3), whose fastball was so overpowering o·ver·pow·er·ing adj. So strong as to be overwhelming: an overpowering need for solitude. o she didn't need breaking pitches. ``'When we got up 1-0, I kept it in my head to pull through. I didn't get cocky cock·y adj. cock·i·er, cock·i·est Overly self-assertive or self-confident. cock  i·ly adv. , I
just knew they weren't going to score.''
Lupacchini struck out nine and walked none and the Eagles played errorless defense behind her. She outdueled Amanda De La Cerda (13-4), who allowed three singles - none through the middle five innings - with two strikeouts. Notre Dame (15-6, 4-2), losing to Chaminade for the second time in six days, had its chances. The Knights had a runner on base every inning through the first five but never capitalized. Each time, Lupacchini was able to bear down, recording strikeouts for the final out in innings two through six. ``I 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. what happened. We've been getting a lot of timely hits this season, but this time we didn't,'' De La Cerda said. ``They're an awesome team, but I'm disappointed that they've beaten us two times in a row. More power to them, losing is part of the game.'' After carrying Chaminade to the Division IV finals last year, Lupacchini's reputation looms large. Large enough, perhaps, for the Knights, who feature three freshman starters, to be intimidated, at least 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. De La Cerda. ``Softball is a huge mental game. That's why I stay away from the newspapers,'' De La Cerda said. ``Otherwise, Chaminade's reputation can put things in your head and we forget it's just softball.'' Lupacchini, who has been battling back problems, is fully healthy. So is leadoff hitter In baseball, a leadoff hitter is a batter who bats first in the lineup. Strategy Leadoff hitters must possess certain traits to be successful: they must reach base at a proficient rate and be able to steal bases. Lindsey Weinstein, who missed 10 games with a sprained ankle A sprained ankle, also known as a ankle sprain, ankle injury or ankle ligament injury, is a common medical condition where one or more of the ligaments of the ankle is torn or partially torn. but scored the decisive run by singling, advancing on Shannon Barceloux's sacrifice and scoring on Lupacchini's crisp single to left-center. |
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