Espe saves, Tologs prevail

"The entire team helped me get better this year," said Smith, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year. "I could see the potential that we had."

6 Ashby's bat and arm do it all in key league win for Crescenta Valley, May 3 — With an opportunity to pull into a tie for first place with Burroughs in the Pacific League, Crescenta Valley starting pitcher Erin Ashby took full advantage of it with her stellar pitching and hitting.

Crescenta Valley got even with Burroughs with a 5-2 victory at home. Burroughs won the first meeting, 8-2, giving Ashby additional incentive to carry her team. In the circle, Ashby allowed one earned run on seven hits and struck out five in going the distance. At the plate, she recorded three hits and drove in three runs.

"Today was a big win and everybody did their part to contribute to it," Ashby said.

Ashby gave Crescenta Valley a 2-0 lead with a two-run home run in the first inning. She then had a single and drove in the game-winning run with a single in the fourth.

7 Van der Goot shines in the circle in playoff opener for Flintridge Prep, May 19 — The Flintridge Prep softball team posted a 2-1 victory against visiting Santa Paula with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh by Rachel Simon.

Up to that point, Flintridge Prep starting pitcher Denise van der Goot had been the story of the CIF Southern Section Division VI first-round playoff contest.

Van der Goot, who helped the Rebels share the Prep League championship for the first time since 1995, struck out 16 and scattered two hits to pick up the win. The right-hander allowed no earned runs and no walks.

"I was confident we were going to get the run," van der Goot said. "We'd been hitting the ball hard all game. We had a moment. We had to take it."

8 Nelson's numbers lead to near upset playoff victory for St. Francis, Nov. 19, 2010 — Brett Nelson excelled throughout the season as St. Francis' quarterback. After the Golden Knights wrapped up a spot in the CIF Southern Section Western Division playoffs, Nelson and Co. found themselves pitted against second-seeded Dominguez in a first-round road game. Though St. Francis didn't win, Nelson did everything he could.

Nelson, the reigning All-Area Player of the Year, completed 16 of 27 passes for 286 yards and three touchdowns and scored on a two-point conversion in St. Francis' 28-25 loss.