Lions look toward CIF championship game
By Wayne Harrison
Acorn Sports Writer

The Oaks Christian softball team is playing up two divisions from Division VI the past two years to Division IV this year and the quarterfinals win over Notre Dame, a 2-1 nail-biter last week, was an indication that it will be tougher to make it to the championship game in Year Three.

"If we do win this year, I want to win it because we earned it," said senior right-hand starting pitcher Ashlee Freeman. "By playing these close games, it really feels like we’re going to earn this, if we do take it."

After giving up a walk to open up the bottom of the seventh inning vs. Notre Dame, Freeman came back strong to sew up the victory.

"Ashlee (Freeman) is a very strong person in every way," said Lions’ catcher Shannon Van Vorst. "She knows what she’s doing and she’s mentally tough and she’s always able to get back on her feet."

The Lions lost in the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) finals the first two years of the school’s existence and only three players, Freeman, Van Vorst, also a senior, and left-fielder Tiffany Day, a junior, have been here all three years. Sara Radabaugh, a senior pitcher/first baseman, wasn’t eligible to play as a sophomore.

"I’m very pleased with our team," said Van Vorst. "We have a younger team and I’m so grateful for how much everyone has learned and been able to play together this year. I’m so proud of us."

The starting battery of Freeman and Van Vorst said this year’s Lions’ team is facing tougher teams earlier in the playoffs but that Oaks Christian is staying focused.

"Our team is mentally tough," Freeman said. "We’re sticking in there. If we make an error, we pick ourselves up."

Van Vorst added: "We’re able to stay in the game, mentally, all the way through. This year we’re more intense, we’re more into it, because we’re playing tougher teams. The competition is way higher up."

Day got the winning two-run double in the quarterfinals win over Notre Dame. She said, however, that it was a team effort.

"It feels really great to help out the team, but the people had to get on base for me to drive them in, so it’s always a team effort," Day said. "If it wouldn’t have been me it would have been someone else."

Day got the big hit with two outs and she described what it’s like to hit in those situations.

"It’s always nerve-wracking when we’ve got two outs and runners in scoring position," Day said. "You’ve just got to tell yourself, ‘Okay you know how to hit,’ and you just go do your thing."

Day won a CIF championship with coach Jan Hethcock’s girls’ soccer team during the winter, one of three teams that won CIF titles (boys’ and girls’ basketball as well) during that season. What does Day bring from that experience?

"I think I bring more of a calm sense," Day said. "You can get very nervous for these games and it’s almost like too much pressure and you can’t perform your best. But after being through soccer, and winning that championship you just play your hardest and that’s all you can do."

With the three seniors and one junior, Oaks Christian’s roster includes 10 sophomores and four freshmen. Three of the sophomores talked about trying to get back to the finals this year.

"It’s really hard, but the seniors push us to do better," said sophomore shortstop Ashlee Veilleux, "They support us and help us out."

Veilleux, who had two hits vs. Notre Dame added: "It puts a little bit more pressure on us, because we’ve already gone two times (to the finals) and we’re trying to go again, but the whole school is supporting us."

Amber Peterson, a sophomore third baseman, who had one hit against Notre Dame, said she would like the three seniors to leave with championship rings after being runners up the past two seasons.

"The last two years have been a little difficult for them," Peterson said. "I want to make it back for them. I think it would be really cool for them to be able to hang a (championship) banner up in the gym." About the playoffs she added: "It’s a little intense but it’s fun."

Kaslin Tucker, a sophomore who tripled as a designated hitter in the win over Notre Dame, said: "It’s the last chance for our seniors, so we’re trying to make it the best for them. We really want to do it for the seniors and we want to play to the best of our abiltiy."

Day is impressed with the composure of the underclassmen.

"These players are so young but they have so much poise," Day said. "I don’t know if I could do it at that age."