SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS: DIV. IV: OAKS CHRISTIAN WINS OAKS CHR. 1, DOS PUEBLOS 0.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

GOLETA - As soon as the ball took flight off the bat of Oaks Christian High of Westlake Village hitter Amanda Peterson during the Lions' 1-0 Southern Section Div. IV semifinal playoff victory against Dos Pueblos of Goleta on Tuesday, the thoughts starting racing through everyone's heads.

``I kept telling myself to get to second base,'' Peterson recalled thinking as she rounded first. ``I figured it was a double.''

On deck, pitcher Ashlee Freeman watched the ball soar through the air and thought it had a chance to clear the fence.

``As soon as she hit it I thought, `This one is over (the fence),' '' Freeman said.

Oaks Christian coach Pete Ackermann stood in the third-base coaching box wondering what he should do.

``I was thinking about running over there and pushing the ball over the fence.'' Ackermann said.

He didn't need to. Peterson, a scrappy sophomore third baseman, swung hard enough to send the ball over the center-field fence for a solo home run, stunning Dos Pueblos ace pitcher Christina Hoake and sending the Lions into a frenzy.

It was only the fourth inning and it was just one run, but with Freeman working her usual magic in the pitcher's circle, that one run was like a gold nugget.

In other words, more than enough for the Lions (31-2) to buy their ticket to the Div. IV finals to face Alemany of Mission Hills.

Afterward, Freeman still couldn't get over Peterson's first over-the-fence home run.

``I was screaming so loud,'' Freeman said. ``It was awesome.''

So awesome Peterson still wasn't quite sure what to do once the ball cleared the fence.

``I was in shock,'' she said. ``I was hoping I touched the bases.''

The home run became even more important in the top of the seventh inning, when the Lions' Tiffany Day was ruled off first base before a pitch left the hand of Hoake, wiping out the run she subsequently scored on a double by Kaslin Tucker. Day automatically was out on the play, and rather than taking a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the seventh, Freeman had just a one-run cushion.

Things got a bit dicey when Sarah Brennan reached second for the Chargers in the bottom of the inning after her leadoff single and Kini Wong's fielder's choice. But Freeman got Frannie West to foul out to first base than struck out Kristen Calvin for the final out.

``I was a little worried about that run, but Ashlee got the job done when she had to,'' Ackermann said. ``I've said this a lot over the years, but she's one of the best around.''

Freeman, who has given up just seven earned runs during her stellar three-year Oaks Christian career, finished with 11 strikeouts and surrendered just five hits to improve to 21-1. She'll be making her third appearance in the finals and seeking her first title after two disappointing losses. Both setbacks were in the lower Division VI. Nevertheless, she thinks the Lions are ready to win their first title.

``I think we have more experience this time and we know what it takes,'' Freeman said. ``I'm looking forward to it.''

Vincent Bonsignore [phone]

Vincent.Bonsignore(at)dailynews.com