SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA REGIONAL PREVIEWS

-Saturday, May 4 winners of all 12 noon and 2 p.m. games play at 4 p.m. (see COA's "Regional Pairings" web page for all games and times)

Here a brief look at the four South sites, and what the host coaches had to say during regional week:

LONG BEACH CITY (LONG BEACH) - SATURDAY, MAY 4
12 noon, #1 Long Beach (41-3) vs. #16 Victor Valley (19-24)
2 p.m., #8 Ventura (32-12) vs. #9 Riverside (25-12)

The defending-state champs are back, and might be even stronger.

Long Beach floored the pedal at season's start, winning its first 19 games. The Vikings appeared unsinkable with two ace pitchers, and even a third quality arm to boot.

Long Beach Coach Shellie McCall also watched her offense score runs in bunches, leading the team to three tournament titles (Long Beach, Bakersfield, Ventura).

The Vikings (41-3) seem tournament-ready again. They've compiled an 8-1 record against five of this weekend's regional hosts: Palomar (1-1), Cypress (1-0), Fullerton (4-0), West Valley (1-0), and Sequoias (1-0).

"We may have gotten complacent during the year, kind of waiting for this weekend," admits McCall. "But, we're definitely ready now. The team feels confident and ready to go."

Southern California Pitcher of the Year Marie Caballero (16-1, 0.79 ERA) leads the staff in wins and strikeouts (104 in 106 IP).

All-SoCal pitcher Arlene Garcia (15-3, 0.56) and Dana Kuwahara (9-0, 0.73) - two freshmen - helped LBC form the best staff in the South Coast Conference. The Long Beach bats are equally impressive.

The Vikings, hitting .345 as a team, has outscored opponents, 312-34. "We've lost our team speed from last year," says McCall, "but we're a better hitting team up-and-down the line-up. I like our balance."

All-State 1B Monnaye Bernal (.410, 34 RBI) and All-SoCal SS Monique Palacios (.350, 26 RBI) are two of the sophomore leaders; while Caballero (.375) and Garcia (.315) can also hurt teams at the plate.

McCall, who has two state championship rings (1995), predicts a competitive regional.

"Ventura matches up well with teams in our bracket," she said. "We haven't seen Victor Valley, but Riverside has a good offensive attack.

"Hopefully, we'll draw on our experience from the past year and play well. Defending the title is a challenge, so it's all about going after it and getting another one."

Long Beach has reached the Final Eight in nine of the last 10 years.

CYPRESS (CYPRESS) - SATURDAY, MAY 4
12 noon, #2 Cypress (41-6) vs. #15 Rio Hondo (19-24)
2 p.m., #7 Cuesta (28-15) vs. #10 Antelope Valley (31-11)

Speaking off balance, Cypress appears to have all of the makings for a championship club.

The Orange Empire Conference champs (41-6 overall) boast the region's top pitcher and five of the top 10 batters in their tough league.

"We don't have any automatic outs," said Chargers Coach Brad Pickler. "We can all hit a little bit and there's really no way to pitch around us."

All-State SS Natalie Sharp (.429 BA, 63 hits, 41 RBI), All-SoCal C Clarissa Parga (.375, 27 BB), and All-OEC OF Denise Linke (.382) set the table for the Charger line-up.

Sophomore 2B Kim Martinez, 3B Victoria Torrez and 1B Jody Campbell are also hitting above the .300 mark.

"They all haven't hit at the same time, but if two or three are clicking then were pretty good," said Pickler. "Our six-through-nine hitters have also won a bunch of games for us as well."

Meanwhile, freshman ace Michelle Whiteman has carried much of the pitching load, especially down the stretch.

Whiteman, South and OEC Pitcher of the Year, is 27-4 (0.96 ERA) with 163 strikeouts in 182 innings.

"Michelle is a dominating junior college pitcher," said Pickler. "She's not overpowering, but she's still gets strikeouts because of her movement and location."

It all adds up to a solid No. 2 seed, says Pickler, and a chance to win a fifth state title.

"We're healthy and ready to go," he said. "I like our chances in our regional if we keep doing what we're doing."

Cypress opens with No. 15 Rio Hondo, a team Pickler hasn't seen.

"We've had success against Cuesta," he said. "Antelope Valley won their conference and has won 19 of their last 20 games. All of the teams will be ready."

PALOMAR (SAN MARCOS) - SATURDAY, MAY 4
12 noon, #3 Palomar (37-3) vs. #14 Pasadena (19-24)
2 p.m., #6 Moorpark (30-13) vs. #11 Grossmont (27-9)

Three appears to be a lucky number for Palomar.

The last time Palomar was a No. 3 seed (in 2000) the school went on to capture a state title for Coach Mark Eldridge - his third championship ring.

Palomar (37-3 in California; 41-5 overall) was the South's top-ranked team for much of the regular season.

The Comets strung together 19 straight at one point and collected three tournament titles, including a championship win at Cypress.

Eldridge, in his 25th season, guided Palomar to its 17h consecutive Pacific Coast title this season, with another 15-0 record.

Most know the Palomar story by now: the team has reached the State Final Eight for 13 years running - another California record.

The 2002 Comets field four All-State members and two other All-SoCal players - the most award-winners in California.

"We have experience, speed, power, and we've got a chance," Eldridge said. How about two All-State pitchers for your staff?

Sophomore RHP/SS Bridget Starry (heading to Jacksonville Univ., FLA) posted a 17-3 record (0.90 ERA) and pitched 123-2/3 innings. Freshman Crystalie Wolfe went 20-1 (0.74 ERA) and threw 123-1/3 frames.

The Comet offense is sparked by All-State SS Dara Webb, All-SoCal RF Crystal Lee - two sophomores heading to Oklahoma State - and All-State 3B Lacey Craft.

Webb, an All-American in 2000, batted .508, stole 30 bases, and scored 50 runs in 46 games.

Lee hit .429 and collected 47 RBI.

Craft had a stellar freshman season, winning the conference batting title at a .622 clip - a conference record.

With 10 sophomores on the roster and three 2002 tournament titles in the bag, Palomar looks to be a scary No. 3 seed.

They reeled-off 19 straight wins during the season and are 4-2 vs. Sequoias (3-0), Long Beach (1-1) and Cypress (0-1).

Palomar is also 11-1 at home this year.

Still, Eldridge is too wise to overlook his own bracket.

"Grossmont is a dangerous team," he said. "Moorpark is a talented team; and we can't be fooled by Pasadena's record - we've got respect for them."

FULLERTON (FULLERTON) - SATURDAY, MAY 4
12 noon, #4 Fullerton (34-10) vs. #13 Glendale (26-13)
2 p.m., #5 Mt. San Antonio (32-16) vs. #12 Canyons (21-20)

For Fullerton, there's no place like home.

Hornet Field has been kind to the South's No. 4 seed, where the team has won 17 straight games dating back to last season.

Coach Lisa Bassi's club (34-10) finished one game behind Cypress for the Orange Empire Conference title, but the big prize remains in sight.

"Our major goal is still to get to Fresno - that's where our focus is," said Bassi, making her 11th regional trip in 13 seasons. "We've come a long way and really battled through a tough schedule of competition. Hopefully our experience from last season will carry us back to Fresno."

In 2001, Fullerton placed fifth at the state championships with only two sophomores onboard.

Fullerton's 2002 all-everything sophomore, Colleen Burdick (P/3B), and Pitcher of the Year candidate Andee Lindgren led the school to its seventh consecutive 30-win season.

Burdick, who has committed to Long Beach State, was voted All-Southern California Player of the Year after leading the OEC (MVP) in hitting (.500), runs (23 in 21 games), walks (16) and triples (5). On the mound, she posted a 12-5 record (0.71 ERA) with 112 strikeouts in 129 innings.

Lindgren was this year's ace, going 16-2 (0.66 ERA), including an 8-0 mark in conference. The lefty tossed 11 shutouts, including two no-hitters.

Sophomore 2B Loraine Pinedo bolsters a solid infield, along with 1B Stephanie Maris and SS Carolyn Bullard. All three players earned All-OEC honors.

The Hornets beat No. 5 Mt. San Antonio, 8-4 (March 8) in the Golden West Tournament; lost to No. 12 Canyons, 3-1 (April 6) in the Ventura Tourney; and is yet to face No. 13 Glendale - their opening round opponent. Fullerton, 3-0 at a home regional last season, has reached the regional finals seven years in a row, but hasn't won a state title since 1980.

"We've been preparing all week like it's a new season," said Bassi. "At this point, it doesn't matter what seed you are; it's all about who's playing the best softball."

STATE NOTES:

• Results from all eight regional sites will be posted on the COA Web Site (www.coasports.org) and Fullerton College's Web Site (sports.fullcoll.edu)

• West Valley, San Joaquin Delta, Sierra, and College of the Sequoias will host regionals in Northern California.

• Clovis' Buchanan High School will host this year's California Community College Softball Championships. The three-day, double-elimination tournament opens on May 10 and will feature the top four regional qualifiers from Northern and Southern California. More information, including banquet and tournament news, will be posted soon.

-Complied for the COA by publicist Eric Mendoza.

MEDIA: For Softball State Championship information, contact Fullerton College Sports Information Director Eric Mendoza at (714) 992-7391 or emendoza@fullcoll.edu