Brundage Gets Tougher; So Does the Competition

IRVINE —  Jennifer Brundage, pitcher at Irvine High School, is used to a little success.

As a sophomore last season, she was selected The Times’ softball player of the year. This season, she has a 16-2 record and an 0.27 earned-run average.

Brundage, The Times’ Athlete of the Week, was selected the most valuable player of last week’s Woodbridge tournament.

“It (the award) meant the most this year because of the quality teams that we played,” Brundage said. “The tournament has a reputation of being one of the best.”

In the tournament, Brundage won five games from Saturday to Wednesday. The last two games went into extra innings.

In Tuesday’s championship semifinal, Brundage allowed five hits, but struck out 12 and walked none in a 10-inning 2-0 victory over Upland.

Wednesday, Brundage struck out six, walked three and allowed five hits as sixth-ranked Irvine defeated second-ranked Kennedy, 3-2, in 11 innings.

“I was getting tired from pitching so much,” Brundage said. “When you get tired it affects the speed and how the pitch breaks.”

Brundage said it seems as if she’s giving up more hits this year.

“I don’t know if (batters) are getting better--I know our team is hitting better,” she said. “I certainly don’t think they (the batters) are getting worse. I don’t know if it’s because of my year last year or because of coaching, but I think teams are more aggressive to hit me this year.”

Irvine Coach Lisa Limp said she is not sure if teams are doing better against Brundage this season.

But, Limp said, Brundage is pitching better. “She has seven pitches and a real good fastball and she’s a real smart pitcher,” Limp said. “But when you face the same team (as in league) and they always have the same pitcher, as we do, then that’s a definite advantage for the other team.”

Even so, Brundage has pitched three no-hitters this season. Her error in one game and a walk in another kept her from having two perfect games.

“She keeps them (batters) off balance and, like I said, she has a real nice fastball,” Limp said. “I would guess she throws it about 65 (miles per hour).”

TOP PERFORMER

Marla Pickard went three for three, including a home run, and had two RBIs to lead Ocean View to a 3-0 victory over Bolsa Grande Wednesday in the consolation final of the Woodbridge tournament. She went two for three, including a double, and had two RBIs in a 6-1 victory over Mission Viejo Tuesday.

Jennifer Brundage

Irvine High School

* Position: Pitcher

* Height, Weight, Class: 5-6, 140, Junior

* Last week: Brundage won five games and was the most valuable player of the Woodbridge tournament.

* Season: Brundage is 16-2 with 163 strikeouts and 20 walks in 131 innings. She has pitched three no-hitters and has an 0.27 earned-run average. Brundage is batting .438.