There’s Nothing to It for Hart Girls

THOUSAND OAKS — It’s all fun and games lately for the Hart High softball team.

The Indians closed out a five-game week with two convincing Green Bracket victories Saturday in the Thousand Oaks tournament at Los Cerritos Middle School.

Hart defeated Newbury Park, 5-0, in the first round and followed it with a 3-0 victory over Camarillo in a quarterfinal.

“[Saturday] we had everything,” Coach Cathy Giordano said. “Pitching was on, hitting was on and the defense was awesome.”

Hart (17-3), ranked No. 3 in the region by The Times, played error-free ball and two pitchers gave up a measly three hits in 14 innings.

Against No. 4 Camarillo (16-7), the Indians bunched four of their five hits in the first inning for a 3-0 lead.

Erika Duhart doubled to lead off. Two batters later, Sara Dean doubled and drove in Duhart. Jocelyn Evans followed with a line single to center. A two-run single by Casey Pickard chased starter Meredith Nevard (3-1) with one out.

Hart’s hit parade came to a grinding halt once twin Kathryn Nevard stepped into the circle.

Kathryn Nevard retired 17 of 18 batters, 11 by strikeout.

“She’s incredible,” Giordano said. “She’s got it all: the rise, the drop, the curve. All of it.”

The only batter to reach base against Kathryn was Evans, who hit a rocket to center field. Outfielder Jaclyn Victoria was under the missile, but the ball fell at her side and Hart ruled it a double.

Once Kathryn appeared, it became a battle of future teammates.

Amanda Fortune (9-1) of Hart, who pitched a two-hitter and struck out seven, and Kathryn Nevard have signed letters of intent with Illinois.

“[Fortune] threw really good in this game, a lot better than in other games I’ve seen her in,” Kathryn Nevard said.

In a first-round game, Lindsey Kontra dismissed Newbury Park with a one-hitter. Kontra, a left-hander, struck out 10, but walked six.

The Indians, who play five games next week, bunched three of their seven hits in a five-run fifth inning. Danielle Cole’s two-run triple gave Hart a 2-0 lead.

Camarillo went nine innings to beat Chaminade in a first-round game, 1-0.

Camarillo scored on an error in the bottom of the ninth to end it.

Kathryn Nevard (13-7) struck out eight and allowed one hit in six innings of relief.

In other Green Bracket games:

Thousand Oaks 3, Harvard-Westlake 1--Lindsay Johnson and Andi Keesling each had two hits for the Lancers (18-4-1) in a quarterfinal victory.

Shawna Lane’s run-scoring single gave Thousand Oaks a 1-0 lead in the third. Johnson’s double drove in the Lancers’ second run in the fourth.

Elena Ferrero had two hits for the Wolverines.

Nicole Angelo (18-3), who allowed six hits against Harvard-Westlake, picked up two victories Saturday.

In a first-round game, Angelo pitched a one-hitter in a 4-1 victory over Valencia.

Simi Valley 5, Loara 2--Freshman Mandy Kilionski earned the victory in relief, allowing only one hit and striking out six in six-plus innings in a quarterfinal at Los Cerritos Intermediate School.

Kilionski (2-2) replaced starter Jamie Astorino in the first inning with the bases loaded and none out. Loara (16-6) scored two runs before Kilionski retired the side, but Simi Valley (12-7) pulled even with two runs in the bottom half.

The Pioneers went ahead, 3-2, in the third on a run-scoring single by Jenni Shields. Brittney Green had two hits, including a run-scoring triple in a two-run fourth inning.

In a first-round game, Kilionski pitched a one-hitter with 12 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over Atascadero.

Cerritos 2, Westlake 0--Jessica Vanderlinden (17-1) pitched a three-hitter with 11 strikeouts in a quarterfinal. Westlake (14-8) stranded six runners.

Westlake advanced with a 1-0 first-round victory over Peninsula. Katie Reifman scored the game’s only run in the third inning on a rundown between third and home.

Valencia 5, Calabasas 1--Tori Rocco pitched a three-hitter for the Vikings in a consolation victory.