SOFTBALL ADVANCE: UNEXPECTED CONTENDERS GRANADA HILLS, HIGHLAND SURPRISE.

Byline: Ramona Shelburne  Staff Writer

The top half of the bracket looks just as one might have expected, with No. 3 Thousand Oaks playing Agoura in the semifinals. But just who exactly are the other two teams playing in the semifinals of the Hart softball tournament at 6:00 p.m. at Saugus' Central Park.

Before the tournament, most people would have predicted Hart and Westlake would be playing in the semifinals, not for fifth place.

But give credit to Granada Hills and Highland of Palmdale, which upset those heavily favored teams last Saturday and will play each other in the semifinals of one of the most prestigious tournaments in the area.

The championship game will take place at 8 p.m. and because of its 2-1 loss to Granada Hills in eight innings, Hart will not have a chance to win its own tournament after winning it the past four years.

``I couldn't have asked for a better start to the season,'' first-year Highland coach Dan Morrow said. ``The girls have been so focused and worked very hard to get ready for the year.''

Hart and Westlake will play at 4 p.m. with the winner moving on to play for fifth place against the winner of El Camino Real-Canyon at 6 p.m.

--Suzanne Manlet Invitational: There were also surprises last Saturday at the Suzanne Manlet Invitational in Simi Valley as Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks upset then-No. 2 Royal of Simi Valley 3-0 to advance to the semifinals against Camarillo at 4:15 p.m. today at Santa Susana Park.

Host Simi Valley will face Dos Pueblos of Santa Barbara in the other semifinal, also at 4:15 p.m. The championship game will take place at 6 p.m.

``We were so fired up against Royal,'' Notre Dame pitcher Rachel Barraza said. ``We played as a team and everyone did well.''

Unfortunately, Notre Dame didn't keep that momentum going, losing 2-0 at El Camino Real of Woodland Hills on Wednesday. In that game, Notre Dame committed three errors and had only three hits.

``That was the flattest we've played all year,'' Notre Dame coach Rob DiMuro said. ``We'll do better against Camarillo on Saturday though.''

Camarillo also is looking to bounce back after a tough day. The Scorpions began the year as the Daily News' top-ranked team but were swept in a doubleheader against Valencia on Tuesday. In those games, Valencia gave up 12 runs.

--Extra innings: Don't be surprised if Granada Hills needs extra innings to get by any of its opponents today. The Highlanders (6-0) already have played and won three extra inning games, including an 11-inning, 1-0 victory over San Fernando on Wednesday.

Senior Susie Scheper had game-winning hits in two of the three extra inning games.

Ramona Shelburne, [phone]

ramona.shelburne(at)dailynews.com

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