Softball : Fallbrook, USDHS and Bishop’s Score Upsets to Win Division Titles

LA MESA — Every underdog had its day as upsets dominated the San Diego Section softball championships Saturday at Helix High School.

Fallbrook defeated top-seeded Madison, 2-0, to win the 3-A title; University of San Diego High School scored a 1-0 victory over Castle Park in the 2-A final, and Bishop’s defeated second-seeded Mountain Empire, 6-1, in the 1-A title game.

In the 3-A championship game, Fallbrook, winner of the Palomar League, became the first team outside the City Eastern or Grossmont leagues to win a section title since the 3-A division started in 1982. Vista was the last Palomar League team to reach a title game of any division when it defeated San Dieguito for the 2-A title in 1980.

It took some key fielding plays for Fallbrook to win the title as Madison put runners on base in every inning but could not capitalize.

“To keep that a shutout was a lot of work by a lot of people,” Bill Regal, Fallbrook coach, said.

Some of the key work was provided by first baseman JoAnna Wilson and catcher Patti Pearson.

Madison loaded the bases with one out in the first on an error and two walks. But Wilson started a 3-2-3 double play on a grounder by Wendy Choisser to end the inning.

“We practice that play every day in practice,” Regal said. “You wonder if it’s worth it sometimes. That was the first time we’ve turned that this season.”

With Fallbrook leading, 1-0, Wilson threw another runner out at the plate when Madison’s Natalie Hurlburt tried to score from second on a single by Kim Lester in the fifth.

“I just saw this little blue suit blur that way (toward home), so I threw it,” Wilson said.

While Madison was piling up baserunners, Fallbrook took advantage of its two opportunities.

Fallbrook, the third-seeded team, scored the only run it would need in the second. Melissa Franklin had a single to left to open the inning, moved to second on a ground out and scored with two out on a Shannon Fitzgerald’s single up the middle.

Fallbrook added its other run in the sixth, when the Warriors (22-4) put runners on second and third with no outs. Madison (28-3) was able to get two consecutive force outs at the plate, but starting pitcher Debbie Corbett balked home Jennifer Tippit.

Madison had lost only to Patrick Henry in games against San Diego Section teams and had beaten Fallbrook, 3-1, earlier in the season. Madison was also a veteran at the section championships, winning titles in 1982, ’83 and ’86.

2-A DIVISION

Dawn Wood’s streak of one-hitters ended, as did Castle Park’s bid for the section title.

Wood, a junior, had thrown three consecutive one-hitters in the playoffs, and she appeared to be in peak form, holding USDHS hitless for six innings.

Wood, who tied a national record with two consecutive perfect games this season, had struck out 10 batters in the first five innings. But USDHS (18-7), the runner-up in the City Western League, loaded the bases in the seventh on three consecutive singles with no outs.

Heather Farris scored USDHS’ lone run when Wood’s throw to the plate, after a come-backer to the mound, was in the dirt.

“They laid some balls down in some key spots and then the tough throw at home,” said Tim Tyler, Castle Park coach. “Then our bats just stopped.”

Said Margaret Mauro, USDHS coach: “With such a young team we were hoping to just get to final four.”

USDHS, which won its first title since 1982, started four freshmen, including pitcher Viki Vechinski, who allowed two hits.

USDHS defeated second-seeded San Pasqual in the quarterfinals and fourth-seeded Christian in the semifinals. Castle Park, which finished tied with Hilltop for the South Bay League title, finishes 20-10.

1-A DIVISION

Darcey Fontana threw a one-hitter as fourth-seeded Bishop’s won its second consecutive title.

Fontana allowed only a seventh-inning single by Angie Fotland. Mt. Empire (19-5) scored its only run in the sixth.

Sophomore Lauri Smidt was 2 for 3 with a triple and scored twice to lead Bishop’s (20-3), which had finished second to Mt. Empire in the Coastal League.