Canyon-Santiago championship preview

June 03, 2011 5:56 PM

By CARLOS ARIAS

OCVARSITY.COM

SATURDAY'S CIF-SS SOFTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS

DIVISION 1

CANYON (23-7) VS. SANTIAGO OF CORONA (27-5)

Site, time: Bill Barber Park, Irvine, 6 p.m.

Tickets: $9 for general admission, $5 for students with school ID and $5 for children.

Parking: Free

How they got there: Canyon, the third-place team from the Century League, defeated Fountain Valley, 5-2; Saugus, 8-0; Orange Lutheran, 6-5; Kennedy, 8-1; and Los Alamitos, 13-5; Third-seeded Santiago, the Big VIII League champion, defeated Valencia of Placentia, 15-4; West Ranch of Valencia, 6-2; Marina, 4-3 (in eight innings); and El Modena, 4-2.

Outlook: Canyon, which had to play a wild-card game to get into the main draw, is making its first appearance in the finals. Santiago reached the finals in 2009 and won championships in 1998, 2004 and 2006. The Comanches had their up-and-down moments in the regular season, but they have come together in the postseason. The defense and hitting has been there all season and now Tennessee-bound Cheyanne Tarango is pitching at a high level. Third baseman Kelly Stowe (.365, 27 RBIs) and Arizona-bound shortstop Lauren Young (.451, 6 HRs, 36 RBIs) have been the hot bats for Canyon. Erica Romero has been very consistent in the circle for the Sharks. Michigan-bound catcher Lauren Sweet (.482, 14 HRs, 46 RBIs) has been one of the top hitters in Southern California.

Projected starting lineups

CANYON

Jessica Munoz, Jr., CF

Savanna Cadler, So., RF

Shannon Bustillos, Sr., C

Lauren Young, Jr., SS

Cheyanne Tarango, Sr., DP/Sarah Sandell, So., P

Kelly Stowe, Jr., 3B

Taylor Swearingen, Fr., 1B

Kayla Blanco, Sr., 2B

Brittany Razo, Jr., LF

SANTIAGO OF CORONA