LJ softball 7, Mar Vista 2

Pancho, held by Vanessa Shaffer (L), and George, on

the right with Kyra Ferenczy, are the mascots

who power the way for the torrid Vikings.

(Photos by Ed Piper, Jr.)

By Ed Piper, Jr.

Powered by rally giraffes Pancho and George, La Jolla's softball team vanquished Mar Vista, 7-2, Sat., May 20, to go directly to Thursday's CIF Division 4 semifinals at the Poway Sportsplex.

Josie Sinkeldam was a one-woman wrecking crew, forcing the Vikings' (now 13-14) initial run with her legs in the first inning, then driving in runs in the second, fourth, and two runs in the sixth.

Asked before the game why her team is playing so well at this point in the season, the junior shortstop, a Cal State Dominguez Hills commit, said, "We're having fun. We're all here, and we're feeding off each other."

Linda Brown (from left), Vanessa Shaffer, Sina

Anae, and Sara Tyrus huddle up, along with

assistant coach Tracy Brown.

 



To gain the semifinal for the second straight year, the Vikings, who started the season slowly, pitcher Kyra Ferenczy and the defense held the host Lady Mariners to Erika Sanchez's two solo home runs over the outfield fence in left field. Sanchez's shots led off the bottom of the second and fourth innings.

Second baseman Sara Tyrus had three hits. First baseman Emily Alvarez singled in a run. Sina Anae, playing right field in her first season of softball, scored twice.

While the win puts Coach Andrea Denham's team in round four, the semifinals, Thurs., May 25, Mar Vista's loss puts Coach Tracey Garcia's unit on the verge of elimination in the two-loss playoffs. The Lady Mariners will have to survive a game Tuesday to make it to Thursday.

The Vikings' lineup totaled 12 hits against Mar Vista pitchers Jazmin Gomez and Abi Rivera.