SOFTBALL: Accident hurts So Cal Pumas in national championship bid

The So Cal Pumas travel softball team had its bid to capture the 18-under "A" USA/ASA National Championship hurt Sunday in Las Vegas when the team van transporting 17 players and coaches to Majestic Park for a scheduled 8 a.m. game against the Tampa Mustangs was struck by a suspected drunk driver.

The driver of the vehicle, who was later hospitalized, ran a red light and hit the team van on the right side, resulting in four players suffering various injuries and coach Jim Wike breaking his right hand. Assistant coach Dave Fox, the head softball coach at Pacifica High in Oxnard, suffered bruised ribs.

As a result, the Pumas were forced to forfeit their winner's-bracket final against the Mustangs, who later defeated Ohio's Elyria Sundogs 7-5 for the championship.

Tournament directors gave the Pumas extra time to prepare for their second-chance bracket final against Elyria, with a victory giving Wike's team an opportunity to square off against the Mustangs later in the day for the national championship. But the Pumas couldn't protect a four-run lead and lost 5-4 to finish in third place in the 140-team field.

In addition to athletes from Arroyo Grande, Buena of Ventura and Pacifica, the Pumas also feature Agoura's Stephanie Lord, Camarillo's Lyndsay Flartey, Grace Brethren of Simi Valley's Danielle Fletcher, La Reina of Thousand Oaks' Sarah Fox, Newbury Park's Nicole Checkie and Robin Hammond, Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's Kiana Quolas, Rio Mesa of Oxnard's Devin Amar and Westlake's Kylie McNutt.