Kennedy Avoids Moore, Defeats Garden Grove

Kennedy softball Coach Sue Hall’s uneasy feeling when the Southern Section Division I softball pairings were released this week could be traced to one person--Kathy Moore.

Garden Grove’s Moore had already pitched a two-hit shutout against Kennedy and “given us more trouble hitting than anyone outside the Mater Dei pitchers,” Hall said. “As soon as we drew Garden Grove, I said, ‘Oh dear.’ ”

But Moore didn’t pitch Friday, and Kennedy defeated Garden Grove, 4-0, in the first round of the playoffs at Cypress Park.

Kennedy (17-7), the Empire League champion, plays Tuesday at Capistrano Valley. Garden Grove, second in the Garden Grove League, which was ranked sixth in the final county poll, finished 22-9.

Moore (13-4), a Times Orange County second-team all-county pitcher last year, had bronchitis recently and was replaced by freshman Nuvia Marti (6-4). Marti was effective early, but gave way with two walks, two hits and three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Moore, used as a designated hitter, said doctors cleared her to pitch last Friday.

“I told [Coach Cliff White] I was ready to pitch,” she said. “He didn’t want me to have a relapse, I guess.”

Said White: “She wasn’t cleared by me. She can’t take more than a few steps without coughing.”

Kristi Hensel (7-2) took advantage of the opportunity, scattering three hits and striking out nine, including six on called third strikes.

“Her ball had a lot of movement and she kept attacking our weakness, which is the low outside pitch,” Moore said.

Kennedy started three freshmen, four sophomores and got production from throughout its lineup. The Irish got runs batted in from its second, seventh and eighth spots, junior Alicia Dowland (in the third inning), freshman Andria Bledsoe (two RBIs) and sophomore Nicole Crouse. They got additional key hits from the fourth and ninth spots that advanced their two scoring rallies, sophomore Adrianna Wilson and freshman Stephanie Wolter.

In other Division I games:

Capistrano Valley 4, Huntington Beach 1--Jennifer Sutherland pitched a three-hitter as Capistrano Valley (12-14) upset Huntington Beach (20-9).

Canyon 2, El Dorado 0 (18)--Amber Kolle’s two-out single in the top of the 18th scored two runs for Canyon (20-10). Veronica Lopez (14-7) went the distance. She struck out 10 and retired 16 straight at one point, beginning in the 12th. For El Dorado (17-8), Carrie Jeffries didn’t give up a hit until the ninth inning, striking out nine. Canyon plays Trabuco Hills.

El Modena 3, Bolsa Grande 2 (10)--Courtney Heil’s two-run single in the seventh tied the score, and Kim Bentley’s single won it for El Modena (18-11).

Foothill 7, Katella 0--Marie Gieron pitched a two-hitter and struck out nine for top-seeded Foothill (27-2). Lauren Bauer had a two-run homer in the first. Foothill plays at Ventura Buena.

Pacifica 3, Los Alamitos 0--Tiffany Wallace (RBI double) and Natasha Sisco had two hits apiece, and Toria Auelua squeezed home pitcher Amanda Freed. Pacifica (25-3) plays Covina Charter Oak. Los Alamitos finishes 16-11.

Trabuco Hills 3, Fountain Valley 1--Haley Glover had an RBI in the first inning and pitcher Jessica Jarnigan tripled home another in the fourth as Trabuco Hills (11-12) upset Sunset champion Fountain Valley (17-10).