LJ softball 5, Serra 2

By Ed Piper

Things we learned during the Vikings' solid 5-2 non-league win at Serra Wed., April 4:

--Centerfielder Vanessa Shaffer can see the ball much better now wearing her glasses during games. The senior fielding specialist smashed a hard shot on one bounce to the right-centerfield wall. "Yeah, I can see much more clearly," said the friendly, outgoing player, who is an outstanding soccer goalie in her other life.

--Emily Alvarez, senior first baseman, likes photos. (Oops! We knew that already.)

--The Vikings, one game under .500 after their win over the Q's yesterday (at 5-6 overall), narrowly lost to the same team in a recent tournament game at home. According to Gary Sinkeldam, the Vikings' official scorer and statistician, La Jolla went down 10-3. Then the Vikes came back with five runs to trail narrowly at 10-8.

Time was beginning to be an issue, so the umpires asked Coach Andrea Denham if she wanted to continue the game. "Heck, yeah," was her response. The Vikings apparently only had time for part of their at-bat in the next home inning, and weren't able to plate two more runs to tie before the umpires called the game.

So, the recent win at Serra was that much sweeter.

--Jackie Farias, a freshman, continues to hold down third base. Kendall Dooley, another freshman, remains the second baseman, but she was sick and unable to play Wednesday.

Farias wears a protective face mask while playing the hot corner.

Abby Espinoza, freshman number three, was at second base. She, like Farias, donned a face mask in the infield. Arianna Monell, sister of Viking baseball star Alex Monell, patrolled right field. She got whacked in the face by a fly ball in a recent game, but seemed no worse for wear at Wednesday's game.

--Senior shortstop Josie Sinkeldam and junior pitcher Kyra Ferenczy, both headed for La Jolla High Hall of Fame status, continue to rip the cover off the ball.

Sinkeldam, destined for Cal State Dominguez Hills next year, is hitting .457 in the leadoff spot, with 16 hits in 35 at-bats, with 18 runs scored, 10 RBI's (despite batting first in the lineup), and 10 doubles. She was sure-handed in the field in the win over Serra, making several steady plays with strong throws.

Ferenczy, who would seem to have open options to play softball after high school in two years, is hitting .400 on 14 for 35, with three home runs and 14 RBI's from the third slot in the order.

Likewise, Kyra's fielding was crisp and top-notch in the game on several shots back to the pitching circle.

Sinkeldam, whose father was about to split a gusset during the game as the Vikes dipped from a 3-0 lead to holding only a 3-2 edge after four innings before adding two more runs to secure the win, has only struck out one time the entire season.

--The Q's had a not-large but vociferous student cheering section behind the backstop, which was good to see. The Vikings get parent support, but more students attending home games would be a bonus.