Recently in Softball Category

The annual Thousand Oaks softball tournament is set for May 1 and May 8.

Here are the 16 teams participating:

Kennedy, Granada Hills, El Camino Real, Beckman, Long Beach Millikan, Hart, Camarillo, Agoura, Westlake, Thousand Oaks, Rio Mesa, St. Joseph (Santa Maria), Oxnard, Burbank, La Canada and Oak Park.

Jay Creps is the new head coach at Chatsworth High. He is the father of former coach Jaisa Creps.

"I'm not going anywhere. I'm going to be here for a while," Creps said.

-- Gerry Gittelson

Stefany Valentino, an outfielder at Agoura, has committed to UNLV, according to the Ventura County Star.

-- Gerry Gittelson
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Cheyenne Coyle, a top returning softball player at Chatsworth, has committed to Florida on a full scholarship.

-- Gerry Gittelson

Melanie Williams is the new softball coach at Golden Valley, according to a story in the Signal. Williams, who is a walk-on coach and takes over for Courtney Carr, prepped at Valencia High.

-- Gerry Gittelson

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.

DIV. I

No. 4 Hart (27-4) at No. 1 Norco (30-2)

DIV. V

No. 4 Village Christian (26-5) at San Dimas (24-4)

Eagle Rock, led by senior pitcher Theresa Kelley (16-9, 237 strikeouts, 0.96 ERA), will attempt to prevent the Marine League from sweeping both City Section titles today when it faces Narbonne of Harbor City in the Invitational final at 2 p.m. at UCLA's Easton Stadium.

Top-seeded San Pedro (27-4) will look to record its fourth victory this season over Marine rival Banning of Wilmington (21-11), the No. 6 seed, in the City championship game at 4:15 p.m.

San Pedro is seeking its fourth consecutive City title and record 16th overall.

Eagle Rock (17-9), the No. 19 seed, rebounded from a 2-1 opening-round loss to Sylmar to defeat Crenshaw 9-1, Huntington Park 15-3 and Northern League rival Wilson of El Sereno 4-1 to advance to the Invitational final.

Narbonne (16-7-1), the No. 12 seed, bounced back from a 10-7 first-round loss to No. 21 Venice to shut out Eastern League opponents Roosevelt (10-0), Bell (7-0) and Garfield (3-0) en route to today's contest.

In addition to Theresa Kelley (.376, 23 RBIs) -- daughter of coach Martin Kelley -- Vicky Delgado (.407, 19 runs, 15 RBIs), Veronica Solis (.406, 12 runs, 18 RBIs) and Arelly Alvarez (.316, 22 runs, 15 RBIs) will look to carry the Eagle Rock offense.

The Gauchos are led by Elia Lizarraga (.545, 27 runs, 22 RBIs) and Kristina Torrez (.438, 14 runs, 19 RBIs). Lizarraga (16-6, 1.87 ERA, 174 Ks), a sophomore, is also expected to start for Narbonne.

DIV. I

No. 1 Norco (29-2) at Thousand Oaks (25-5)
Esperanza (19-13-1) vs. No. 4 Hart (26-4) at Newhall Park

DIV. III

Chino Hills (22-10-1) at No. 3 Crescenta Valley (26-1)
Glendora (20-4) at No. 2 Oaks Christian (26-4-1)

DIV. V

No. 4 Village Christian (25-5) at San Jacinto (18-5)

DIV. VI

Grace Brethren (13-6) at No. 3 Marymount (22-4)

CITY
Championships, Wednesday at UCLA
Invitational: #12 Narbonne (16-7-1) vs. #19 Eagle Rock (17-9), 2 p.m. (Local Game)
City Championship: #1 San Pedro (27-4) vs. #6 Wilmington Banning (21-11), 4:15 p.m.

Small Schools
Championship, Tuesday at Birmingham, 3 p.m.
#1 Elizabeth (17-3) vs. #3 Los Angeles CES (8-15)

SOUTHERN SECTION

DIVISION I
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
#1 Norco (28-2) at El Toro (16-15)
Thousand Oaks (24-5) at Oxnard Pacifica (19-9) (Local Game)
El Modena (22-9) at Esperanza (18-13-1)
#4 Hart (25-4) at Moorpark (16-10) (Local Game)
Garden Grove Pacifica (20-10) at #3 Anaheim Canyon (24-7)
Corona Santiago (24-4) at Los Alamitos (23-8)
Foothill (19-7-1) at Edison (21-5)
#2 Valencia (25-6) at Riverside Poly (22-8) (Local Game)

DIVISION II
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
#1 Vista Murrieta (24-4) at Valley View (20-7)
Yucaipa (22-8) at Upland (21-6)
La Mirada (25-5) at Los Osos (18-9)
#4 Laguna Hills (21-6-2) at Canyon Springs (22-7)
Murrieta Valley (13-14) at #3 Beckman (21-7)
Redlands (21-7) at Don Lugo (21-7)
Lakewood (24-7) at Mayfair (19-5)
#2 Etiwanda (25-2) at Irvine (15-8)

DIVISION III
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
Chaminade (15-9) at Chino (18-13) (Local Game)
Warren (19-9) at Tesoro (23-4)
Los Altos (21-6) at Oak Park (17-10) (Local Game)
#4 Ayala (22-9) at Aliso Niguel (19-10-1)
#3 Crescenta Valley (25-1) at St. Bonaventure (15-8) (Local Game)
Alemany (21-7) at Chino Hills (21-10-1) (Local Game)
Knight (21-5-1) at Glendora (19-4) (Local Game)
#2 Oaks Christian (25-4-1) at Colton (19-9) (Local Game)

DIVISION IV
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
La Quinta (19-4) at #1 Ocean View (23-5)
Aquinas (23-3) at Torrance (21-11)
Santa Maria St. Joseph (18-10) at North Torrance (18-13)
Hesperia (16-6) at Arrowhead Christian (14-10)
#3 Santa Monica (23-6) at Bishop Montgomery (14-16)
Paloma Valley (20-7) at Garden Grove (12-10)
Lakeside (14-8) at Bishop Amat (17-12)
#2 El Segundo (26-3) at Indio (20-6)

DIVISION V
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
Barstow (14-9) at Western (19-6)
San Dimas (22-4) at La Canada (19-7) (Local Game)
San Jacinto (17-5) at Azusa (16-8)
South Hills (16-9-1) at #4 Village Christian (24-5) (Local Game)
Northview (16-8) at #3 Woodcrest Christian (17-9)
Whittier Christian (20-6) at Rowland (14-13)
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel (19-6-1) at West Covina (15-10)
#2 Riverside Christian (19-7) at Heritage (17-10)

DIVISION VI
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
Campbell Hall (12-5) at #1 La Salle (22-5) (Local Game)
Big Bear (14-11) at Arroyo (14-9)
Nordhoff (11-14) at Ramona Convent (14-2)
#4 South El Monte (19-6) at Desert Mirage (13-10)
#3 Marymount (21-4) at Mary Star (14-9)
Grace Brethren (12-6) at San Gabriel Mission (16-8) (Local Game)
Viewpoint (18-3) at Oxford Academy (18-6) (Local Game)
#2 Maranatha (20-6) at Yucca Valley (16-7)

DIVISION VII
Second round, Tuesday, 3:15 p.m. unless noted
St. Genevieve (11-4) at #1 Hesperia Christian (21-1) (Local Game)
Rolling Hills Prep (14-3) vs. Bishop (12-9) at Bishop City Park, 2:15 p.m.
Downey Calvary Chapel (11-8-2) at Connelly (15-7)
#4 Kern Valley (20-6-1) at Joshua Springs (12-11), 4 p.m.
#3 Victor Valley Christian (23-3) at Montclair Prep (11-5) (Local Game)
St. Matthias (11-11) at Eastside Christian (14-6)
Saddleback Valley Christian (11-6) at Brentwood (8-11)
#2 Rosamond (18-7) at Camarillo Cornerstone Christian (7-7) (Local Game)

Notes: Quarterfinals, Thursday; semifinals, June 2. Championships, June 5-6 at Barber Park (Irvine).