Softball: Thirteen teams vying to be last one standing
As the Mayfield softball team prepares to host Covina in the first round of the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoffs today at 3:15 p.m. at Brookside Park, one can't help but wonder how this team's confidence vastly differs from last season.
The biggest difference can be summed up in one word: depth.
The addition of two freshmen - Mireya Hernandez and Jessica Parada - has significantly bolstered the Cubs' supporting cast and given standout pitcher Katie Clancy some serious talent behind her.
Mayfield (19-5), for good reason, has felt it has a shot at winning since Clancy's arrival. This season alone, Clancy, a junior, is batting .329 with a team-leading 25 RBIs, but her forte is in the pitcher's circle.
She's 18-2 with a 0.83 ERA and a staggering 238 strikeouts. Clancy starts every game and has pitched a complete game in all but one to go along with eight shutouts.
CIF-SS PLAYOFFS
ALL GAMES 3:15 P.M.
FIRST-ROUND
TODAY'S GAMES WITH PREDICTIONS
DIVISION 5
Costa Mesa at San Marino -- San Marino
Temple City at West Covina -- Temple City
Pasadena Poly at San Dimas -- San Dimas
Village Christian at Duarte -- Duarte
Keppel at Cerritos Valley Christian -- Cerritos Valley Christian
Covina vs. Mayfield at Brookside Park -- Mayfield
Sierra Vista at La Canada -- La Canada
DIVISION 6
Gabrielino at Marymount -- Marymount
Desert Christian at Alverno -- Desert Christian
Twentynine Palms at Maranatha -- Maranatha
San Gabriel Mission at Ramona Convent -- San Gabriel Mission
Marshall at Boron -- Boron
Baptist Christian vs. La Salle at LDS -- La Salle
CLICK ON THREAD TO CONTINUE READING
"Yeah, I do feel we can win every time she's pitching," Mayfield coach Jennifer Moulden said. "But I feel that way, too, about a couple other girls we have on the team now."
Hernandez, a talented shortstop who can play just about every position, is batting .481 with 22 RBIs and two home runs.
Parada, another versatile player, is batting .338 with 22 runs scored, 18 RBIs and four triples.
There are others just as dangerous including junior catcher Kaitlin Fitzpatrick (.333, five doubles, three triples) and Anneliese Luck, a senior who has persevered through knee injuries and pitched a complete game last week. She allowed only three hits and struck out 10 in a shutout victory over Chadwick to help the Cubs win three of the last four Prep League titles.
"We have a lot more depth in our lineup," Moulden said. "Last year we had nine girls, and that was it. There wasn't a lot of knowledge of the game, but here we have that one through nine and we have depth on the bench."
Covina (17-7) is coming off a 13-0 wild-card win over Tahquitz of Hemet. The Colts are led by Molly Ross, who is batting .427 with 30 RBIs, seven home runs and four triples.
Also in Division 6
San Gabriel Mission at Ramona Convent
Ramona Convent (12-6) is armed with a true double threat in Yvette Hernandez. The sophomore first baseman/pitcher is batting .488 with two home runs and is 7-2 with a 0.71 ERA. San Gabriel Mission (17-2) features stout shortstop Nicole Holguin (.500, 26 RBIs, five home runs) and Priscilla Hernandez (.560, 20 RBIs, six doubles).
Twentynine Palms at Maranatha
The Minutemen (16-11) are coming off a 13-1 loss to La Salle, but for the most part cruised to another Alpha League championship with an unblemished record and played some stiff nonleague competition. Maranatha is led by Annie Sommers, who is batting .500 with 16 RBIs and three home runs. Twentynine Palms (11-11) is the third-place team out of the De Anza League.
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Melendez worked as a correspondent for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune for three years and later landed a job as a freelance writer at the Los Angeles Times before accepting an offer at The Orange County Register covering high schools. Melendez covered Major League Soccer at The Register for three years before being promoted to report on the Lakers, Angels and Dodgers for the Web. Melendez also worked for the Daytona Beach News-Journal, Fresno Bee, Oakland Tribune and The Boston Globe. E-mail opinions, suggestions and tips to miguel.melendez@sgvn.com. |
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Softball Wins Academic Team Championship Award!
4/2/2010
CIF Southern Section awards sports teams annually that have the highest GPA. This year they had 1,451 team entries for sports during the 2009-2010 school year. The Panthers won the Academic Team Championship Award for softball with an impressive team cumulative grade point average of 3.8. The 2010 softball team members include Sarah Anderson, Courtney Foster, Kathryn Hathaway, Heather Choi, Brooke Mulligan, Julia Tsai, Laurel German, Stephanie Tercero, Lindsay Bern, Hannah Dunham and Megan Latta. The girls will be honored with a banner and be a part of a pre-game ceremony before the April 27th Anaheim Angels game
Softball Wins Academic Team Championship Award!
4/2/2010
CIF Southern Section awards sports teams annually that have the highest GPA. This year they had 1,451 team entries for sports during the 2009-2010 school year. The Panthers won the Academic Team Championship Award for softball with an impressive team cumulative grade point average of 3.8. The 2010 softball team members include Sarah Anderson, Courtney Foster, Kathryn Hathaway, Heather Choi, Brooke Mulligan, Julia Tsai, Laurel German, Stephanie Tercero, Lindsay Bern, Hannah Dunham and Megan Latta. The girls will be honored with a banner and be a part of a pre-game ceremony before the April 27th Anaheim Angels game
FOH,
Geez, how did you figure it out? Go Spartans!
Swing and a miss, strike one.
chkyrslf crows about being right..boy does he like to pat himself on the back.
He should be embarrassed, as a coach affiliated with the La Canada program as he is, with the levels he will sink to in order to promote La Canada while trying to sound objective.
Every coach I know refuses to get caught in blogs and strongly recommends to the parents and players under his influence to do the same.
Every time you come on this blog, chkyrslf, you should admit your self serving status with La Canada
Looks like San Marino's draw is fixed now. Calvary Murrietta will host San Marino.
I'm afraid of being right again. Village Christian 2 Duarte 0
Someone from San Marino might want to call CIF. If you look at the Draw Sheets this morning it shows Costa Mesa hosting Calvary Murrietta in the second round.
t in la,
I'm afraid you've had one too many. It's called supporting the San Gabriel Valley teams.
SJC and chkyrslf what are you afraid of?!
Small Balls,
Such harsh commentary! There is more to your post than meets the eye. Did your kid apply and not get into Poly? Your pain is evident!!
Small Brain,
A twelve pack says the Poly softball teams average SAT score is at least 7 times higher than your teams .300 batting average!
Small ball:
Does that include Arcadia? Because I think Poly beat them 4-2 and don't they have over 3000 students?
Marshall 6, Boron 2
Once again Poly proves it can't beat schools with more than 40 kids. Better luck next season.
San Dimas beat Pasadena Poly 12-0
San Marino/Costa Mesa game went 10 innings. Floyd had 26 strikeouts.
San Marino 1 Costa Mesa 0
By the way, I agree with chkyrslf - I'd LOVE to be wrong.
Valley Christian 1 - 0 over Keppel
Mayfield 3 - Covina 0
La Canada 15 - Sierra Vista 0
La Salle 20 - Baptist Christian 0
Mission beat Ramona 4-2
I have to agree with SJC, Village Christian is an excellent program. I hope I'm wrong.
Agree with your predictions with one exception - Duarte. Village Christian is a very tough opening round and they come in as the # 4 seed even though they were the play-in game.