Esperanza's Katie Schroeder slings a ball back into the infield during a recent game against Los Alamitos. ROD VEAL, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER |
Ruiz drawing interest from Titans
Taking a look at the county softball scene:
•The big county schools aren't the only places to find NCAA Division I prospects. Capistrano Valley Christian coach Shannon Justice said junior catcher Capri Ruiz is receiving attention from several colleges, including Cal State Fullerton. Ruiz has also been receiving a lot of attention from opposing Academy League teams. Ruiz, who is batting .683 with five homers, three triples, 29 runs and 20 RBIs, has been walked 19 times this season.
•Junior catcher Nikole Afusia of Ocean View is another player who should generate a lot of interest from colleges. Afusia, who is hitting .604 for the season, is 9 for 14 with six runs, four RBIs, two doubles and two home runs in the past three games for the Seahawks, who are in first place in the Golden West League.
•Last week's Kennedy-Pacifica matchup between the top two teams in the county lived up to the hype. Allee Allen was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts against Pacifica pitcher Christine Hiner before delivering the game-winning hit in the bottom of the eighth.
•El Modena had its winning streak snapped at 16 games with losses to Royal of Simi Valley and Millikan of Long Beach on Saturday at the Thousand Oaks Tournament.
•Mandy Gutierrez belted a two-run homer to help Trabuco Hills upset then-No. 5 El Toro, 2-1, in a Sea View League game last week.
•Corona del Mar handed then-No. 9 Laguna Hills its first Pacific Coast League loss when Karissa Dempsey drove in Katrina Gaar with a single in the bottom of the sixth for a 1-0 victory Tuesday. Michelle Tolfa scattered seven hits to record the shutout for the Sea Kings.
•Games of the week: Savanna at Magnolia, today, 3:15 p.m. (The Rebels look to solidify their first-place position in the Orange League, while the Sentinels try to gain a share of the league lead); JSerra at Santa Margarita, today, 3:15 p.m. (The Lions can take the lead in the Trinity League if they can complete the season sweep of the Eagles); Los Alamitos at Marina, Wednesday, 3:15 p.m. (These two teams have split two games this season, but the Griffins' victory came in a Sunset League game); Garden Grove at Rancho Alamitos, Thursday, 3:15 p.m. (The Argonauts took sole possession of first place in the Garden Grove League with a 6-1 victory over the Vaqueros in the first meeting).
