SOFTBALL: VASQUEZ'S STAR RETURNS MUSTANGS' GOAL IS TRIP TO PLAYOFFS.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. & Heather Gripp Staff Writers It's hard to say who's happier that Shayne Lotito is back playing 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' at Vasquez High, Lotito or the Mustangs. Lotito left Vasquez in late August, transferring to Valencia so she could play with better competition and experience life at a bigger school. She was being recruited by Dartmouth and believed she needed to prove herself academically and athletically on a larger stage. Because of Southern Section transfer rules, Lotito was going to be ineligible in·el·i·gi·ble adj. 1. Disqualified by law, rule, or provision: ineligible to run for office; ineligible for health benefits. 2. to compete for Valencia because her family didn't change residences. In late September, she returned to Vasquez to finish her senior year. She hasn't looked back. Lotito was welcomed back by her teammates and classmates Classmates can refer to either:
``It wasn't weird at all,'' Vasquez senior Kelly Sexton sex·ton n. An employee or officer of a church who is responsible for the care and upkeep of church property and sometimes for ringing bells and digging graves. said. ``I thought it would help her chances of getting into Dartmouth and prepare her better, so I didn't take offense to it. ``But I'm glad she came back. She's the quickest player I've ever seen. If I had to play against her, 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. if I could throw her out.'' Lotito is hitting .769 (20 for 26) in Vasquez's first eight games. She's also 5-3 as a pitcher and hasn'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 . When Lotito first returned to Vasquez, she said she was disappointed not to have the opportunity to play for Valencia. But she was happy to be back with her classmates, many of whom she's grown up with. ``At first I was upset, but I love Vasquez, so it all worked out OK,'' Lotito said. ``I wouldn't change what happened. I'm glad I went to Valencia because it kind of opened my eyes to be at a bigger school like that. But I'm also glad to be back at Vasquez.'' It all worked out OK for Lotito in terms of her college choice, too. In November, Lotito signed a letter of intent to play for Boston University Boston University, at Boston, Mass.; coeducational; founded 1839, chartered 1869, first baccalaureate granted 1871. It is composed of 16 schools and colleges. . She was admitted to Dartmouth but had to turn the Ivy League Ivy League Group of eight universities in the northeastern U.S., high in academic and social prestige, that are members of an athletic conference for intercollegiate gridiron football dating to the 1870s. university down because she didn't receive enough financial aid. She also was offered a 70 percent scholarship by Villanova, but she preferred Boston U. ``She's a real strong player,'' Vasquez coach Kaye Bruns said. ``She's good at everything. She knows how to get to the ball. She knows what to do when she gets to the ball. And she's very quick.'' Lotito might be able to do just about anything on the softball field, but she said her biggest challenge will be taking Vasquez to the playoffs in her senior season. Vasquez isn't in a league, so it can receive only a wild-card entry, and not until leagues with automatic entries have been placed in the draw. ``All four years now, we've been trying to show people we have what it takes,'' Sexton said. ``We all really want to make the playoffs this year and show people what we can do.'' Ramona Shelburne, (818) 713-3617 ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com BASEBALL: Golden League baseball's future is bright Young players are beginning to tap into potential Every Golden League baseball team except first-place Palmdale has a losing overall record this season. But the future isn't so dim: The league is loaded with talented underclassmen. Many of the youngsters already are providing a glimpse of the future. With multiple games in a short period, spring-break tournaments offer the perfect opportunity for underclassmen to show what they can do. Among those who responded in a big way was Lancaster sophomore pitcher Bryan Rasch. He started Tuesday against league rival Quartz Hill at the Arcadia tournament and earned his first win. He struck out five in five innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. of six-hit work against the three-time defending league champions. Rasch is part of a young Eagles' staff that also features sophomores Scott Lee and Tommy Grillo. Lee is settling into the role of No. 2 starter and has wins over Canyon of Canyon Country and 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 . Sophomore infielder Jonathan Elizando also is contributing for Lancaster, which finished sixth at the Arcadia tournament. He delivered two hits and an 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 a game against Palmdale. Quartz Hill finished last at the Arcadia tournament but received impressive outings from its young pitchers. Johnny Volk and Brandon Van Dam van Dam (Dutch for "of the dam") may refer to:
n. Abbr. JV A high-school or college team that competes in interschool sports on the level below varsity. Noun 1. for the second time this season. Volk started against Lancaster, and Van Dam pitched the final 3 2/3 innings. Van Dam, a 6-foot-4 freshman right-hander, struck out five and allowed one hit in the Rebels' loss. Palmdale could have the deepest supply of young talent. Although the Falcons did not play in a spring-break tournament, the team's underclassmen have had plenty of opportunities to play. Sophomore Trevor Bloom has made a huge impacts in the league this year. The outfielder is Palmdale's top hitter, entering this week batting .433 with three home runs and 11 RBI, all team highs. Another sophomore, infielder Sean Sweeney, ranks second on the team with a .385 average. Sophomore Ryne Smith is a regular at first base. Freshman Mike Tonkin is 1-0 with a 2.67 ERA through 21 innings. The Falcons have eight sophomores and three freshmen on their roster. ``There are some good young players in this league,'' Lancaster coach Matt Anderson
Matthew Jason Anderson said. Heather Gripp, (818) 713-3607 heather.gripp(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): 2 photos, 5 boxes Photo: (1) Shayne Lotito is hitting .769 and has a 0.00 ERA for Vasquez's softball team. (2) Lancaster High's Josh White connects during the Eagles' eight-inning loss to Palmdale in a Golden League showdown. Lancaster, a 4-1, is a game behind undefeated Palmdale. Tom Mendoza/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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