South HB girls take title

The South Huntington Beach girls Under-8 fastpitch softball team

got its season off to a successful start by winning the Cypress Kick-Off

Tournament.

Led by the pitching of tournament MVP Stephanie Engle, South

Huntington Beach swept its competition and outscored its four opponents,

37-9.

Victims included West Garden Grove (17-0), host Cypress (3-2), and

Long Beach twice, the first game by a 7-3 margin, and the second meeting,

a 10-4 victory in the division’s title game.

Engle recorded 45 strikeouts during the four games, which included a

five inning performance in the first Long Beach game, and a complete game

victory in the championship final.

South Huntington Beach’s offense included home runs by Engle, Mallory

Trott, Taylor Thorpe, Marissa Holzmiller, Sadie Hoeschen, and Paige Cook.

Danielle Miller, Molly Bergdahl, Tess Lustbaum, and Cheyanne Flores

also contributed key hitting throughout the tournament, as did Katie

Aldrich, who delivered the clutch, game-winning hit in the 3-2

come-from-behind victory over Cypress.

A tough South Huntington Beach defense was paced by Cook, Lustbaum,

Hoeschen, Flores, Engle, and Kristina Finseth.

The South Huntington Beach girls Under-8 fastpitch softball team is

coached by Tom Lustbaum and Russ Engle.