Sang Lee
NORTHWEST GLENDALE -- For what seemed like an entire afternoon, the
Hoover High softball team faced the same pitcher, with the same technique
and the same arsenal of pitches.
Having already seen 10 innings of Dani Regan's enigmatic projectiles
flung past them in the first game of Saturday's nonleague doubleheader,
common sense could tell the Tornadoes that sooner or later they'd be able
to figure out the Burroughs junior.
But common sense couldn't explain Regan's elastic arm as she tossed a
complete-game, two-hitter and led the Indians to a 4-0 victory against
the Tornadoes at Hoover High.
There's a lot that couldn't be understood, like how Regan could pitch
17 innings the morning after a competitive evening alumni game, with all
this coming on the heels of a tournament in which she pitched in seven
games.
"I guess Superwoman is a good way to describe her," Burroughs Coach
Jennifer Gomez said.
"Even if her arm is hanging out, she'll still go out and pitch with no
complaints. Dani is a veteran leader and a team captain. She's going to
carry us and for her to win both games [today] is a credit to her."
The Indians also won the first game of the doubleheader, 2-0, in 10
innings.
The two-game sweep wasn't too gratifying for the Tornadoes, who also
lost to Burroughs, 6-2, on March 14 in the semifinals of the 10th annual
Hoover Softball Classic.
"We really needed one [win] today, but the girls lost their
concentration and focus after the first game.," Hoover Coach Kirt
Kohlmeier said.
"But we're coming along well and our team is right where we want to be
going into league."
It's hard to blame Kohlmeier's group against a battle-tested Burroughs
squad as the Tornadoes field only two seniors and eight sophomores.
"It was nice to get two wins," Gomez said.
"Hoover is a much-improved team and Kirt [Kohlmeier] has a done a
great job with his team and they were a tough test for us."
After a slow first game, the Indians (7-4) went to work early in the
second contest, threatening in the first inning and scoring two runs in
the third.
The margin widened in the fifth inning when Lynee Hastings drove in
Trista Carr with a single into left field and Sara Larquier crossed home
plate via a fielder's choice.
Hoover's (3-8) best opportunities came in the first and fifth innings.
Both times the Tornadoes had two runners in scoring position and both
times they couldn't convert.
"Burroughs is a good team and I thought we did a good job today,"
Kohlmeier said.
