DIVISION III SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : Irvine Reaches Semifinals

Irvine hopes its 1990s softball playoff tradition continues. In 1990, the Vaqueros lost in the first round of Southern Section playoffs. In 1991, they won the championship. In 1992, they lost in the first round.

If history repeats, Irvine is due for a Division III title. Thursday, the Vaqueros furthered their cause with a 1-0 victory over Moreno Valley Canyon Springs in the quarterfinals. Irvine (25-5) will face North Torrance, a 1-0 winner over Mission Hills Alemany, in the semifinals.

Canyon Springs (19-9) has been scored on in the first inning of all three playoff games.

Kim Fischer singled, and went to second when center fielder Valerie Cook overthrew first base. Rebecca Smith sacrificed Fischer to third and Monika Hollstein singled up the middle, driving in Fischer.

Canyon Springs Coach Antoinette Martinez tried to remedy the situation after the first inning, moving Cook to pitcher, second baseman Harmony Hartig to center, Joy Pennington to second, and pitcher Shannon Colosimo out. Cook held Irvine hitless the rest of the game.

The Cougars almost scored in the sixth. With one out, Julie Beightol singled. Cook flied out, and Hartig belted a line drive to left, but Fischer fielded the ball and nailed Beightol at third.

“Poor Julie,” Martinez said. “I was holding her (on second) the whole time, but she didn’t see the ball, she didn’t see me, she didn’t see anything.”