Charles Rich
La Canada High softball Coach Brock Turner should have investigated
the hotel scene in the Santa Barbara area.
The fares might be a little steep for the Spartans, but at least
they would have been spared the expense of having to travel twice to
the seaside town for the CIF Southern Section Division IV playoffs.
After posting a 2-1 second-round victory Tuesday against Santa
Barbara San Marcos, the Spartans (19-5) will travel to fourth-seeded
Goleta Dos Pueblos (24-6) at 3:15 p.m. today in a quarterfinal
contest. The winner will take on Westlake Village Oaks Christian
(29-2) or Sherman Oaks Notre Dame (15-8) in a semifinal game Tuesday.
Dos Pueblos and San Marcos are separated by six miles. If only
Turner and the La Canada athletic department knew after Tuesday's
game that they'd lose the coin flip to determine who would be the
home team.
La Canada will make its third straight trip to the quarterfinal
round and fifth in the past seven years. The Spartans will turn to
senior pitcher Danielle Mellin (16-5), who scattered six hits and
struck out five in a complete-game effort Tuesday.
San Marcos will be led by University of San Diego-bound pitcher
Christina Haake, who is 19-3 and hitting over .400.
