SOFTBALL RIVALS TEAM UP FOR ALL-STAR EXHIBITION VALENCIA, HART GIRLS JOIN FORCES AT LAST.Byline: Gerry Gittelson Staff Writer School's out for summer, and every high school championship has been decided, but a group of seven 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' players from Valencia and Hart still have some business. They'll represent their schools and communities one last time at the 17th annual Daily News All-Star Game An all-star game is an exhibition game played by the best players in their sports league. The players are often chosen by a popular vote of fans of the sport and the game often occurs at the halfway point of the regular season, although this is not the case for some all-star games at 3 p.m. today at Glendale Sports Complex. Valencia infielders Ashley Herrera and Natalie Mueggler, outfielder Danyale Peterson, pitcher Tori Rocco and catcher Jaisa Creps join Hart outfielder Meaghan Flaherty and infielder Erica Duhart on the West team, co-coached by Valencia's Donna Lee Donna Lee is a bebop jazz standard itself based on the chord changes of the traditional jazz standard "(Back Home Again in) Indiana".[1] It is named after the now-obscure bassist Donna Lee. . The Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, contingent is expected to make a significant impact. Rocco, Valencia's career leader in most major categories, is scheduled to be the starting pitcher Noun 1. starting pitcher - (baseball) a pitcher who starts in a baseball game baseball, baseball game - a ball game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players; teams take turns at bat trying to score runs; "he played baseball in high school"; today after finishing this past season with a 13-3 record, 0.32 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 108 innings INNINGS, estates. Lands gained from the sea by draining. Cunn. L. Dict. h. t.; Law of Sewers, 31. . Today she'll go three innings, and the stint will probably be one of the last times Rocco pitches in California - she'll still compete in travel ball over the summer - because she has committed to play at Arkansas Tech next season. ``I'm pretty excited but sad at the same time because this is the last time we'll all be together,'' Rocco said. ``That's why we all want to do well and finish strong.'' Creps and Herrera are also probable starters, and they're among the event's marquee names because both have committed to UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX - Creps on a full scholarship and Herrera as a recruited walk-on. Both are top sluggers, as Creps had six triples and Herrera six home runs this past season. So the 190-foot home-run fence should be quite inviting to them. Peterson also has plenty of power, batting .314 with five home runs - including a 250-foot shot against Burroughs of Burbank that is considered the longest home run in Valencia history - and a team-high 18 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 this year. What makes today especially special for Peterson is that she'll hang up the cleats for good afterward, as the Daily News fest will be her final softball game even though she's been offered scholarships by such Division I college programs as Cal State Northridge. As for the Hart girls, they've been overshadowed by Valencia's players over the last few years because they've lost seven in a row to the Vikings, who have won three consecutive Foothill League titles. Today, however, Duhart and Flaherty are on a clean slate Noun 1. clean slate - an opportunity to start over without prejudice fresh start, tabula rasa chance, opportunity - a possibility due to a favorable combination of circumstances; "the holiday gave us the opportunity to visit Washington"; "now is your chance" . And since the final score really isn't important, the emphasis figures to be on fun and camaraderie ca·ma·ra·der·ie n. Goodwill and lighthearted rapport between or among friends; comradeship. [French, from camarade, comrade, from Old French, roommate; see comrade. . Flaherty, who had 18 stolen bases this past season, might be the fastest player on the field. For Duhart, who led Hart with 21 RBI (no one else on the team had more than 14), this game gives her a chance to play with her best friend, Herrera. At any rate, this event should be lots of fun from a local perspective because the Santa Clarita area is so well-represented. A large crowd is expected, and fans figure to be in for a treat as the region's best softball players put on one last show. Gerry Gittelson, (661) 257-5218 gerry.gittelson(at)dailynews.com 17th annual Daily News All-Star Softball Game --When:Today, 3 p.m. --Where:Glendale Sports Complex --Local players: Jaisa Creps, Valencia; Erica Duhart, Hart; Meaghan Flaherty, Hart; Ashley Herrera, Valencia; Natalie Mueggler, Valencia; Danyale Peterson, Valencia; Tori Rocco, Valencia. --Coaches: Donna Lee (Valencia) and Suzanne Manlet (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. ), West; Coy Ray (Quartz Hill) and Carolyn Gunny (Granada Hills), East. CAPTION(S): photo, box Photo: (color) Valencia softball shortstop Ashley Herrera will join teammates Natalie Mueggler, Danyale Peterson, Tori Rocco and Jaisa Creps as well as Hart stars Meaghan Flaherty and Erica Duhart in today's Daily News All-Star Game at the Glendale Sports Complex. Tina Burch/Staff Photographer Box: 17th annual Daily News All-Star Softball Game (see text) |
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