SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIV. IV: OAKS CHRISTIAN SHUTS DOWN NOTRE DAME LIONS MOVE UP TWO DIVISIONS, REACH SEMIS BEHIND FREEMAN OAKS CHR. 2, NOTRE DAME 1.Byline: Dave Shelburne Staff Writer New division, same old story. Oaks Christian of Westlake Village, a Southern Section Div. VI 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' finalist each of the past two seasons, is adjusting just fine to being bumped up to the Div. IV ranks this year. The Lions (30-2) rolled to their third consecutive postseason victory and 24th in a row overall Thursday, getting another solid pitching performance from Ashlee Freeman and a clutch sixth-inning double from Tiffany Tiffany, Tiffanie (UK) a semi-longhaired version of the Burmese cat. It has a fine, silky coat in many colors. Day. Day's two-out, two-run hit to left field proved the difference as Oaks Christian - ranked No. 7 by the Daily News and the top seeded in the Div. IV playoffs - eliminated Notre Dame Notre Dame IPA: [nɔtʁ dam] is French for Our Lady, referring to the Virgin Mary. In the United States of America, Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks 2-1 in a quarterfinal game at Van Nuys Sherman Oaks Park. ``We're improving every year and getting more kids out,'' Oaks Christian coach Pete Ackermann said of the softball success at the 3-year-old school. ``I'm pleased to see our team mature and get better.'' Ackermann said the difficulty of his program's move up two divisions has been felt mostly in the level of playoff play·off also play-off n. Sports 1. A final game or series of games played to break a tie. 2. A series of games played to determine a championship. Noun 1. competition. ``The playoffs have been a lot tougher,'' he said. But his team has risen the occasion, shutting out its first two postseason opponents and winning on the road against the most-successful and perhaps most-resilient softball team in Notre Dame history. The Knights, who overcame a 1-6 season start with a nine-game winning streak Noun 1. winning streak - a streak of wins streak, run - an unbroken series of events; "had a streak of bad luck"; "Nicklaus had a run of birdies" , won their final three Mission League games in must-win circumstances to clinch Clinch, river, c.300 mi (480 km) long, formed by the junction of two forks in SW Va., and flowing generally SW across E Tenn. to the Tennessee River at Kingston. the school's first league title in 13 years. Then they outscored their first two playoff opponents by a combined 16-7 to get home-field advantage against Oaks Christian (30-2). ``We did what we had to do to have a chance,'' Notre Dame coach Rob DiMuro said, ``but they're No. 1 for a reason, and they're tough. Ashlee made the pitches she had to make in the clutch.'' Freeman (20-1) struck out 10 in her 17th consecutive victory and had a shutout until the bottom of the sixth, when Notre Dame's speedy Cori Blanton doubled, took third on an attempted pickoff pick·off n. 1. Baseball A play in which a runner is caught off base and is put out by a quick throw, as from the pitcher or catcher. 2. Sports An interception, as in football. and scored on Megan Hayes' single. By then, however, Oaks Christian had all the runs it would need, thanks to Day's tie-breaking double - which followed a single by Ashlee Veilleux, a walk to Amber Peterson and a fielder's choice field·er's choice n. Baseball A play made on a ground ball in which the fielder chooses to put out an advancing base runner, thus allowing the batter to reach first base safely. Noun 1. play that got Freeman to first. Veilleux also doubled, and Kaslin Tucker added a leadoff triple in the seventh inning in·ning n. 1. a. Baseball One of nine divisions or periods of a regulation game, in which each team has a turn at bat as limited by three outs. b. innings (used with a sing. for Oaks Christian, but she was stranded by freshman Kat Hodgkins (5-5), who took the loss in relief of starter Rachel Barraza. Notre Dame (15-9), which was outhit 7-4, received two hits and a stolen base from Blanton. ``We battled huge and I think we did a good job representing our league,'' DiMuro said. ``These kids put softball on the map at Notre Dame, and most of them will be back next year.'' CAPTION(S): photo Photo: Oaks Christian pitcher Ashlee Freeman was efficient Thursday en route to recording her 17th consecutive victory. Tom Mendoza/Staff Photographer |
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