SOFTBALL BEAT : OH, BROTHERS.Byline: - Vincent Bonsignore, Gerry Gittelson Growing up with two older brothers who played baseball, Louisville High shortstop Christina Jordt didn't lack for practice partners. Jordt credits brothers Josh, now in the Air Force, and Michael, who plays baseball at Pierce Collge, with accelerating her development. Jordt played Little League baseball first, than switched to 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' when she was 11. ``They never took it easy on me, that's for sure,'' Jordt, a junior, said about her brothers, who played at Crespi. ``I guess they made me into the scrapper I am.'' She's more than just a scrapper, 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. Louisville coach Dana Vasquez. Jordt, a smooth defensive player, is developing into a good hitter. She's hitting .438 with two home runs, four 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 and five runs scored in four games since moving into the cleanup spot Noun 1. cleanup spot - (baseball) the fourth position in the batting order (usually filled by the best batter on the team) cleanup position, cleanup . ``There have been times when I was playing well defensively and I thought I could be doing better offensively,'' Jordt said. ``I think now my power is slowly starting to emerge, and that probably comes from getting more strength.'' Still, it's Jordt's play at shortstop that gets the most attention. ``I'm not sure I've seen a stronger shortstop,'' Vasquez said. ``The other day she made a mistake and she came over to apologize to me, and I joked to her that that just proved to me she was human.'' Freshman impact Last year, 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 was 0-8 heading into the High Desert Classic. This year the Antelopes are 3-2 at the same point. The difference this year has been three freshman. Kelly Bleyl (2B), Tiffany Minor (SS) and Traci Nolte (C) have provided terrific defense and a spark offensively. More importantly, they've given senior pitcher Kelly Bleyl some much-needed confidence. ``She doesn't feel like she has to strike everybody out anymore,'' Antelope Valley coach Kristi Speir said. ``Now she can just pitch her game because she knows she has a good defense behind her.'' Cara McGwire? She's been recognized as the best defensive shortstop in the area, but El Camino Real's Cara Blumfield has always been a noted hitter. This year Blumfield doesn't have to worry about her offense getting overlooked. Not when she hits .581 like she has through eight games, and especially not when she hits six home runs in 31 at-bats. Interestingly, Blumfield isn't the top hitter on her team. That honor goes to sophomore catcher Christina Enea, who is hitting .636 with 14 hits in 22 at-bats. Experience pays off Westlake's quick start - six wins through seven games - may not be so much of a surprise. The Warriors are benefiting from new coaches Barbara Jordan Barbara Charline Jordan (February 21, 1936 – January 17, 1996) was an American politician from Texas. She served as a congresswoman in the United States House of Representatives from 1973 to 1979. Early life and career Jordan was born in Houston's Fifth Ward to Rev. and Michelle McAnany, both of whom bring a wealth of experience. Jordan, a former Granada Hills and Cal State Northridge star, was an alternate on the 1996 United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. Olympic softball team in Atlanta, and will find out in June if she made the 2000 team. McAnany also played at Northridge, and most recently played on the Colorado Silver Bullets The Colorado Silver Bullets was an all-female professional baseball team that played in the United States in the mid-1990s. The Bullets were the first such team since the folding of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League in 1954. women's professional baseball team. Jordan and McAnany have instilled their intensity in the young Warriors, who seem more focused than in recent years. DAILY NEWS TOP 10 (Records through Monday) Team Record 1. Camarillo 7-0 Taverner is fun to watch. 2. Newbury Park 6-1 Pitching catches up. 3. Westlake 6-1 How do they respond to first loss? 4. Quartz Hill 9-1 Think Valencia knows who Cox is? 5. 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. 8-0 The quietest undefeated team around 6. 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. 7-2 A healthy Fowler dominates. 7. Crescenta Valley The Crescenta Valley is a small inland valley in Los Angeles County, California. Its name derives from its crescent-like shape, with the convex portion facing roughly northeast and the concave portion southwest. 3-3 Not worried about the record. 8. Hart 5-1-1 Getting good hitting and pitching. 9. Chaminade1-3-1 Eagles' tough schedule will help down the line. 10. El Camino Real El Camino Real (Spanish for The Royal Road or The King's Highway) was the name of a series of pre-automobile highways linking the various New World colonies of Spain:
Blumfield and Enea pack a punch. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO Christina Jordt learned the ropes playing with the big boys, her brothers. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
|
||||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion