Section titles up for grabs

The Wheatland High softball team is back to defend its Nothern Section Div. IV championship — and rival Sutter is waiting for the Pirates, again.

The two Butte View League foes meet for the third straight year to settle the championship, with the first pitch from Huskies' sensational junior, Jessica Moore, scheduled for 4 p.m. at Sutter.

Sutter won the 2006 championship game.

Farther south in the county, the East Nicolaus softball team takes on visiting Esparto at noon in the Northern Section Div. V championship game.

The Spartans' seniors will be playing in their fourth straight championship game, but are still lookig for their first title.

Three years ago, they lost to Hamilton and two years ago they fell to Fall River. Last year, they lost to Liberty Christian, 5-3, in eight innings.

The Lindhurst softball team made the Sac-Joaquin Section Div. VI semifinals, where the Blazers face Le Grand at 10 a.m. at Arnaiz Stadium in Stockton. If they win, they play for the championship at 1 p.m.

NORTHERN SECTION

DIVISION IV

Wheatland at Sutter

Wheatland may have won the title last year, but it is the Sutter Huskies who own their opponents this year.

Sutter (34-2) has won all three meetings — 7-0 in the Pleasant Valley tournament and 10-0 and 2-0 in the BVL.

"We need to find a way to get the bat on the ball," Wheatland coach Jim Vossler said. "In three games, we've gotten only five hits off Jessica Moore."

Moore has been mowing down the opposition. She has thrown nine no-hitters and has recorded 18 shutouts, while going 24-1. Her ERA is 0.37. She has an opportunity to become the all-time season leader in strikeouts in the Northern Section, needing just five more to surpass Eileen Canney of Paradise, who had 372.

Rachel Silva has tossed seven shutouts for Wheatland (15-13) while posting a 12-11 record. Her ERA is 1.79. She defeated Moore in last year's title game.

"My concern is we need to hit the ball," Sutter coach Raoul Singh said.

Sutter did pound out 11 hits in Thursday's semifinal win over Live Oak.

"The girls are really pumped up," Singh said.

DIV. V

Esparto at East Nicolaus

Holli Bingaman is expected to get the nod at pitcher.

"She is on a roll right now," Spartans coach Richard Quick said, noting she came on in relief against Burney in the quarterfinals and pitched well in the semifinal win over Etna.

"I could still change my mind and go with Lydia White," Quick said, but added East Nicolaus is a lot more solid when White plays first base. "She made an unbelievable play (in the Etna game)."

The game takes on an added meaning, as East Nicolaus' Alex Ortiz can add to a couple of Section records today.

Ortiz has 60 runs batted in, which tops the former season mark of 52 set by Molly Ward of Lassen. She also is tied with Libby DeCoito of Fall River for most doubles in a season with 19.

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION

DIV. VI

Lindhurst vs. Le Grand

The Blazers (15-13) are excited about reaching the semifinals.

"This is the first time we've gone to the second round of the playoffs in probably 10 years," said Lindhurst coach Bill Biggs.

Two years ago, the Blazers finished in the basement, Biggs said.

"They didn't even show up for their last game,"

Biggs took over the varsity program last year and guided the Blazers to the playoffs, losing 8-2 to Denair in the opening round. Now they are on the verge of playing for a Section title.

Biggs said he doesn't know a lot about Le Grand, which defeated Lindhurst's fellow Golden Empire League nemesis Golden Sierra, 7-3, in the first round of the playoffs. If Lindhurst beats the Tigers, it could face another GEL foe, Capital Christian, in the championship game.

TODAY’S TITLE TILTS

NORTHERN SECTION

DIVISION IV

• Wheatland at Sutter, 4 p.m.

DIVISION V

• Esparto at East Nicolaus., noon

SAC-JOAQUIN SECTION

DIVISION VI

• Lindhurst vs. Le Grand, 10 a.m., Arnaiz Field, Stockton (semifinals)

Contact sports reporter Richard Myers at 749-4714 or rmyers@appeal-democrat.com