SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIV. I: ROYAL HEAT TOO MUCH FOR Q.H. HOT-HITTING HIGHLANDERS EARN SHUTOUT IN DESERT ROYAL 6, QUARTZ HILL 0.

Byline: Ross Siler Staff Writer

QUARTZ HILL - Three hours in the scorching desert sun was more than enough for the Royal High of Simi Valley softball team.

As soon as the final out of Tuesday's game was recorded, the Highlanders' players headed directly from their dugout to the team bus.

There would be plenty of time, they insisted to coach Bill Dishon and his assistants, to discuss their 6-0 victory over host Quartz Hill in the Southern Section Div. I playoffs. But it had to be done in air conditioning.

For the second consecutive year, Royal (22-5) advanced to the section quarterfinals, breaking open a scoreless game with six runs in the third inning. But the afternoon undoubtedly will be remembered mostly for the triple-digit temperatures on the field.

Two Royal players - third baseman Nicole Mears and second baseman Nicole Hartfield - suffered from heat-related conditions during the game. At one point, Mears became sick and had to leave the Highlanders' bench to sit in the shade.

``We all played through it,'' said Mears, who hit an RBI single to right in the third, ``and that's what we had to do.''

Both players were fine afterward and will be available when Royal hosts Rosary of Fullerton in a Thursday afternoon quarterfinal. But Dishon added Tuesday's heat was by far the worst his team had seen this season.

Even so, the outdoor oven didn't seem to hurt Royal's hitting. The Highlanders sent 12 batters to the plate in the third inning, connected for eight singles off Quartz Hill senior Brieann Huling and scored six runs, all of which came with two outs.

Huling retired the first seven Royal batters to start the game. But senior right fielder Jenessa Allen singled off Huling's foot to start the breakthrough inning. Allen then scored on Heather Erickson's single to center, knocking the ball away from catcher Rachel Green.

During the inning, Royal pounded five singles in succession and got its final run when Mears sneaked in to score from third on Kristin Wayne's dribbler toward the mound. Huling then was replaced by junior Erica Ricker to open the fourth.

By then the Highlanders had more than enough runs for junior pitcher Jordan McPherson, who notched her eighth shutout of the season and struck out eight. McPherson also lowered her microscopic ERA to 0.12, having allowed one earned run in 58 2/3 innings this year.

McPherson improved to 8-2 but did not have her best stuff. She hit a batter, gave up five hits and shared a laugh with catcher Lauren Allen when one of her dropballs missed its mark.