Royal softball nabs piece of title
By Steve Ames
Special to The Acorn

A tie for the Marmonte League softball championship was not what Thousand Oaks High had wanted, but the Royal Highlanders were perfectly happy with the result.

Royal beat Thousand Oaks, 4-1, last week at Rancho Simi Community Park to avenge a 1-0 loss to the Lancers earlier in the season.

It was the second time in three years the league championship has ended in a tie.

Next for Royal (19-7 overall, 12-2 league) is the CIF Southern Section Division I playoffs beginning today at 3:15 p.m. at Rancho Simi Community Park against the Oxnard Yellowjackets, the Pacific View League’s No. 2 team.

"They (Thousand Oaks) beat us last time with one stroke of the bat," said Royal head coach Bill Dishon. "We came out and made a statement. I don’t care if it’s one inning, or not. It’s 4-1.

"We won the game with the offense. The defense did help us save that game, but we won that game with four runs."

Winning pitcher Jordan McPherson, a senior, improved her record to 9-4.

"Jordan (McPherson) pitched a great game," Dishon said. "It was a well-deserved win for her. If we lose that game it’s a travesty. She pitched a great game. No question."

Royal’s junior shortstop Andi Ramirez homered to left during the third inning to key a four-run Highlander rally.

Highlander junior third baseman Devon Hofland went 2-for-3, including a triple, and junior second baseman Liz Prieto added a double.