Patriot softball squad in final; baseball team to replay semifinal

With a 10-0 victory over Victor Valley Christian on Tuesday, the Viewpoint softball team is headed to the CIF-Southern Section Division V championship game against Liberty League rival Faith Baptist.

The Patriots, who are 18-5 this season, will play Saturday at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine with game time set for 3:30 p.m. Viewpoint split two games against Faith Baptist earlier this season.

"We know a lot about (Faith Baptist) since they are in our league," Viewpoint head coach Pam Oseransky said. "I know it sounds cliché, but the game is going to come down to pitching, who puts the ball in play the most and who makes the least mistakes."

The Viewpoint baseball team lost to Avalon High 8-7 in the Division VII semifinals Tuesday, but the game will be replayed since it was filed under protest by Viewpoint head coach Frank Pontello.

The teams play again today at Millikan High at 2 p.m.

Pontello claimed that the playing conditions against Avalon were unsatisfactory. The distance from the pitcher's mound to home plate measured 62 feet rather than the standard 60 feet, 6 inches. The distance to first base was 92 feet rather than 90 feet, and the outfield fences were only 248 feet from home plate.

The winner of today's game plays Upland Christian Saturday at noon for the section title at the UC Riverside Sports Complex.

- Thomas Gase