SOFTBALL NOTEBOOK: DON'T TELL OAK PARK IT'S NOT THE FAVORITE.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer The 20-10 record isn't particularly flashy and there aren't a bunch of home run hitters or record-setters in the lineup. Nevertheless, unseeded Oak Park High doesn't feel like a scrappy scrap·py 1 adj. scrap·pi·er, scrap·pi·est Composed of scraps; fragmentary: scrappy evidence. scrap underdog against third-seeded Orange Lutheran (26-6) in the Southern Section Division IV 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' championship at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Barber Park in Irvine. True, Oak Park never has been to a softball final, and Orange Lutheran is the defending Division V champion and a runner-up in 1998. But Oak Park has won 10 consecutive games, including a victory over top-seeded El Segundo El Segundo (ĕl sēgŭn`dō), industrial city (1990 pop. 15,223), Los Angeles co., S Calif., on Santa Monica Bay; inc. 1917. Its products include navigation and computer systems, aircraft parts, office machines, telephone apparatus, and in the quarterfinals. And the team has one of the hottest pitchers in any division in senior right-hander Melissa Johnson (18-5, 0.79 ERA). So far, Johnson has been able to carry the Eagles to four playoff victories, though they've scored more than three runs in a game just once. Perhaps more important, Oak Park is peaking at the right time. One reason is that five key players who started slowly because they were on winter-sports teams are now at their best. ``We might be a surprise to others, but the way we're playing right now is the way we've been capable of playing from the beginning of the year,'' Oak Park coach Roger Newell said. ``Between all the basketball players and soccer players and cross-country runners on our team, it took a month for a lot of these girls just to get into softball.'' Oak Park is batting .265 - Johnson (.472, two home runs) is one of just two .300 hitters - and has scored 134 runs. But the Eagles haven't needed much production with Johnson in the circle. She has nine shutouts, including a 1-0 victory Tuesday at Western of Anaheim in the semifinals. Still, Orange Lutheran is the favorite. The Lancers lanc·er n. 1. A cavalryman armed with a lance. 2. A member of a regiment originally armed with lances. 3. lancers (used with a sing. verb) a. A kind of quadrille. b. have won 15 in a row and have outscored four playoff opponents 25-3, including a 9-0 victory over Northwood of Irvine in the semifinals. Pitcher Maggie Davidson, a sophomore right-hander, is 17-4 with a 0.83 ERA. She pitched a two-hitter against Northwood. --Oaks Christian, Faith on schedule: The Division VI playoffs have offered no surprises. Top-seeded Oaks Christian of Westlake Village and second-seeded Faith Baptist of Canoga Park have trounced opponents in the first four rounds of the playoffs. Sure enough, they will meet in the Division VI final at 10 a.m. at Barber Park. Oaks Christian hasn't given up a run in the postseason and has no-hit its past two opponents. Faith Baptist has outscored opponents 57-2 in the playoffs, including a 26-0 victory over Riverside Christian in the quarterfinals. ``I think this matchup was almost predestined pre·des·tine tr.v. pre·des·tined, pre·des·tin·ing, pre·des·tines 1. To fix upon, decide, or decree in advance; foreordain. 2. Theology To foreordain or elect by divine will or decree. from the beginning of the season,'' Oaks Christian coach Pete Ackermann said. ``Everyone talks about our pitchers (Sara Radabaugh and Ashlee Freeman), but Faith Baptist's pitcher, Ivette Hernandez, is good, too. She's shut down a lot of good teams.'' Radabaugh is 13-1 with a 0.00 ERA, and Freeman is 12-1 with a 0.09 ERA. Both are junior right-handers who started their high school careers at different schools. Radabaugh transferred from Moorpark and Freeman from Chaminade of West Hills. Hernandez, a senior right-hander who has committed to Utah, is 17-2 with a 0.79 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 115 innings. She hasn't given up 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 in the playoffs. SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS At Barber Park in Irvine Saturday, 4 p.m. Division IV Oak Park (20-10) vs. Orange Lutheran (26-6), 4 p.m. Division VI Oaks Christian of Westlake Village (29-4) vs. Faith Baptist of Canoga Park (26-7), 10 a.m. OTHER FINALS At Barber Park Friday Division V Western Christian vs Christian V, 1646–99, king of Denmark and Norway (1670–99), son and successor of Frederick III. His minister, Griffenfeld, who until his fall in 1676 dominated Christian's reign, made the monarchy absolute. . Pomona Catholic, 5 p.m. Division III
Division III (or DIII) is a division of the National Collegiate Athletic Association of the United States. King vs. El Modena, 7:30 p.m. Saturday Division I Dana Hills Dana Lynne Goetz (May 6, 1964 – July 15, 1996) was an American actress and voice actor who was best known for her raspy voice and child-like appearance. The surname of her stage name of Dana Hill was in fact her mother's maiden name. vs. Etiwanda, 1 p.m. Divison II Kennedy of La Palma La Pal·ma An island of Spain in the northwest Canary Islands. vs. El Dorado El Dorado, legendary country of South America El Dorado (ĕl`dərä`dō, –rā`–) [Span.,=the gilded man], legendary country of the Golden Man sought by adventurers in South America. , 7:30 p.m. CAPTION(S): box Box: SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS (see text) |
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