HIGH SCHOOL ROUNDUP:
Coach Kendra Rosales calls them her “Dynamic Duo.â€
They’re assuredly not Batman and Robin, but Edison High softball pitchers Allyson Hecht and Jessica Reichner still can save the day for the Chargers.
On Monday, it was Reichner’s turn. She improved to 7-0 this season, hurling a four-hit shutout in Edison’s 4-0 win over Norwalk in a Gold Bracket quarterfinal of the Woodbridge/Victory Softball Classic.
“It’s really nice to know you have not one but two pitchers who can come in at any time, hit their spots,†Rosales said of her stud juniors. “They do not get rattled easily. They’re confident in their pitching, and they’re confident in their team. I think that allows the good chemistry that the team has going on right now.â€
Senior second baseman Jordan Malavar had an RBI-double, Reichner had an RBI single and senior first baseman Stephanie Engle capped it off with a two-RBI double in the sixth inning. But Edison’s No. 3 and 4 hitters are both freshmen, Casey Africano (one for two with a walk and run scored against Downey) and Jessica Plaza (also walked and scored a run).
“Stud freshmen, stud seniors, stud juniors, stud sophomores,†Engle said. “The whole shebang ... We have just been working very hard. We don’t let down.â€
Edison plays El Modena at 12:30 p.m. Saturday at Irvine’s Bill Barber Park, in a Gold Bracket semifinal. The championship game is scheduled at 7:15 p.m. Saturday.
In other action at the Woodbridge Softball Classic, Marina fell to El Modena, 2-0, in another Gold Bracket quarterfinal. El Modena pitcher Haylie Wagner struck out 15 and no-hit the Vikings until the seventh, when seniors Erin Cuevas and Taysia Kaufman managed singles.
In the second inning, Marina left the bases loaded after Wagner walked three.
“We just didn’t show up,†Marina Coach Shelly Luth said. “I don’t know why. We’re batting .333 as a team. Offense is one of our strengths, and I’m just not sure. [Wagner] is a great lefty pitcher, she hits her spots really well, [but] we just panicked today. Some of our best players just weren’t here today. Too many Easter eggs.â€
The Vikings (11-3) play Norwalk in a fifth-place semifinal at 10:15 a.m. Saturday.
Fountain Valley also fell in a Gold Bracket quarterfinal Monday, 2-1, to La Habra. Sophomore Allison Lang pitched and had a double for the Barons, who play Villa Park in another fifth-place semifinal.
Huntington Beach topped Redondo Union, 9-6, to advance to the Bronze Bracket semifinals Saturday. Cory Schlinsog went two for three with two RBIs and also earned the win.
?
SWIMMING
The Fountain Valley girls were fast Saturday at Belmont Plaza at the Klaus Barth Invitational, where they finished second to Los Alamitos.
Fountain Valley’s Cynthia Fascella swam to meet records in the 50-yard freestyle (23.54 seconds) and 100 free (51.66).
Shelby Webber won the 200 free in 1:53.50, and Fountain Valley also set the meet record in the 400 free relay, with Webber, Alex Huynen, Danica Fascella and Cynthia Fascella finishing in 3:34.05.
?
BASEBALL
The Edison High baseball team went to Hawaii last week and won three out of four games. The Chargers (12-3) lost to Maui, 8-4, before topping Baldwin, 8-4, St. Anthony’s, 13-2, and Baldwin again by a 6-2 score.
Coach Steve Lambright said senior Kurt Heyer had a one-hit shutout in the first Baldwin game.
“It was outstanding,†Lambright said of the trip to Hawaii. “All three teams were very cordial, and my kids bonded really well. It was really good for everyone.â€
The Chargers, ranked No. 2 in the CIF Southern Section Division I coaches’ poll, get back into Sunset League play at 11 a.m. Saturday against Esperanza.
Marina, ranked No. 8 in Division I, won the Darryl Kile Memorial baseball tournament with a 1-0 victory over Vista Murrieta Saturday at Norco High. Kevin Stoops pitched a complete-game, two-hit shutout and J.J. Baccari hit a solo home run.
MATT SZABO may be reached at (714) 966-4614 or by e-mail at matthew.szabo@latimes.com.
All the latest on Orange County from Orange County.
Get our free TimesOC newsletter.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Daily Pilot.