Southern Section Softball Division II Final

Santa Maria Righetti vs. Woodbridge

When--7:30 tonight

Where--Lakewood Mayfair Park

Righetti (33-2)--Second-seeded Righetti, the Northern League champion, is ranked fifth nationally by the National Fastpitch Coaches Assn., and is trying to become the third school to win five section softball titles. This is its first appearance in a final in 15 years. Junior pitcher Jocelyn Forest (33-2, 0.26 earned-run average) set a Southern Section record for victories in a season, and her 497 strikeouts (258 innings) are 12 behind the 1987 total of Valencia’s Michelle Granger. She has thrown five no-hitters and 13 one-hitters, and also hit .305 with 19 runs and 18 runs batted in.

Woodbridge (33-2)--Top-seeded Woodbridge, the Sea View League champion, is ranked fourth nationally and also is trying to become the third school to win five section titles. This is the Warriors’ third consecutive final appearance; they last won in 1995. Although without first baseman Ashley Boone (sprained ankle), Woodbridge has six players batting above .380, including third baseman Lizzy Lemire (.416, 19 runs, 32 RBIs), second baseman Nichole Thompson (.434, 30 runs, 16 RBIs) and shortstop Natasha Watley (.451, 37 runs, 27 stolen bases). Woodbridge has won 28 in a row. Pitcher Christy Robitaille is 23-2 with a 0.30 ERA and 14 shutouts.

Key to the game--Saugus players, after their 2-1 semifinal loss to Righetti, admitted they let Forest’s accomplishments get to them. Question is, do Woodbridge players keep it from happening to them? They beat Righetti, with Forest pitching, in last year’s semifinals, 1-0, in 11 innings.