La Verne has a strong weekend

It was a good weekend if you're a Leopard, not a good one if you're a Bulldog.

The SCIAC titles were decided in baseball and softball on the same day and it was the University of La Verne prevailing in both, although in different fashion.

The drama was highest on the baseball diamond where the Leopards swept defending champion Pomona-Pitzer 7-4 and 13-3 on Saturday. But that alone didn't pave the way to a berth in the NCAA Division III West Regional. The Leos needed help and got it big-time from Claremont-Mudd-Scripps which knocked off Redlands, which started the day in first place - 23-16 in a slugfest and 7-6.

It was perhaps a fitting end for La Verne which controled its own destiny last year only to crash and burn against Whittier on the final day of the season, losing two and handing the title to the Sagehens.

In softball the SCIAC's automatic qualifier was determined, via tournament and the Leopards started the four-team event seeded third but wound up defeating favored Redlands 5-4 in the title tilt.

Redlands has a strong shot at an at-large bid however. The Bulldogs have been ranked in the top 10 nationally for much of the season and have some quality wins over top 10 teams.

Both regional tournaments will be held in Texas with the women headint to University of Texas-Tyler and the men headed to McMurray.

Hopefully the drama that has played out in the last two years won't be lost when baseball goes to a four-team tournament to determine the AQ as well.