Conquistadores Defeat Cougars With Sister Act

SAN FERNANDO —  Already top-notch pupils in the classroom, El Camino Real High softball players Melissa and Stephanie Frasco also have proven to be students of the game.

Melissa, a valedictory candidate for her senior class, boasts a 4.25 grade-point average and Stephanie, a sophomore, carries a 3.70 GPA.

On Tuesday, they played key roles in helping El Camino Real defeat Kennedy, 6-2, in a Northwest Valley Conference game at Brand Park.

Melissa doubled, tripled and drove in two runs. Stephanie (9-2), a right-hander with a 0.56 earned-run average, allowed six hits, struck out five and walked one.

“It’s really the first time we’ve been on the same team,” Melissa said. “This was very fulfilling.”

The victory was particularly satisfying because it ended a two-year losing streak for El Camino Real (9-2, 2-0) in regular-season play against Kennedy (11-5, 2-1).

Although El Camino Real rebounded from each of those losses to beat the Golden Cougars in the City 4-A title game the past two seasons, the Conquistadores were anxious to make a statement with a regular-season victory against Kennedy.

Or anybody, for that matter.

The game was a makeup of a March 27 matchup that, along with every other contest on El Camino Real’s schedule since then, was rained out. The Conquistadores had not played since a 2-0 victory over San Fernando on March 24.

“I was nervous at first, just because it is them,” Stephanie said. “It was Kennedy . . . and we hadn’t beaten them in so long. But, the first inning was all it took.”

The Frascos found their form in the second inning, when El Camino Real took a 2-0 lead.

Melissa doubled to center field with one out to drive in Jessica Riddle and Stephanie followed one out later with a single that scored Melissa from second base.

Kennedy pulled within 2-1 with a run in the fourth, but Melissa capped a two-run sixth inning with a run-scoring triple to right field.

“It’s been so long since we played that it just felt so good to be out there,” Melissa said. “I just let go.

“When I come out here, I just relax and have fun, and that helps me in the classroom. It works the other way, too. Studying helps me to focus in softball. I always want to come out on top, in everything.”

Stephanie, who played outfield last season, out-dueled junior left-hander Patty Del Real (8-5).

“I felt good. I think I’m getting the ball down, where it needs to be,” Stephanie said. “My coaches are always talking ‘Location, location.’ ”