The Lions bounce back from two recent losses to clinch the Marmonte League title with a victory powered by four home runs, including three by Ilove’a Brittingham. The homers also sparked some controversy during the contest.
WESTLAKE — Oaks Christian softball bounced back from two straight Marmonte League losses in a big way on Tuesday by beating crosstown rival Westlake 5-1.
The Lions captured their third straight league title with the win. The Warriors end the league season in third place behind Agoura.
“I knew this group was always capable of it,” Oaks Christian coach Cheyenne Coyle said. “We didn’t play our best overall in league, but I knew the games that we lost were definitely not who we are. So it was good to see them come back against a rival here.”
Coyle said she wanted to see her team score more runs in order to get a win Tuesday, and her players responded in the form of four home runs. Ilove’a Brittingham had three hits — all home runs — and four RBIs.
“It’s always smart hitting,” Brittingham, a BYU commit, said. “You always have to swing at good pitches. When you have good pitch selection and your technique is right, the ball will go.”
Pitcher Emelia Davis came in for one inning of relief for the Lions (19-4 overall, 8-2 Marmonte League) and gave up one hit while recording two strikeouts. Sienna Reynolds struck out five hitters in the first six innings.
Janelle Rillo Figueroa was walked on a full count to get on base in the third inning, then Brittingham cracked a two-run home run over the fence in center field. Terrianna Kelley showed power when she followed that with a long ball to right field, but popped out.
Lily Knox hit a solo, out-of-park home run in the top of the fourth inning to increase the Lions’ advantage to 3-0.
Amanda Baldwin responded with a solo home run for Westlake (16-7, 6-4) in the bottom of the frame.
The Warriors put runners on base more consistently in the second half of the game, but were unable to bring in any more runs.
In the sixth inning, Baldwin and Mia Morera reached first base on errors and Sydney Katz singled.
Brittingham hit her third home run of the game and 18th of the season in the seventh inning.
“She’s incredibly strong,” Coyle said of Brittingham. “She’ll probably hit 40 home runs in (batting practice). She just gets on top of it and just throws her hands to it. She definitely strides and gets her foot down way, way early. So really it’s crazy.”
The senior’s second home run of the game sparked an exchange between Coyle and Westlake coach Bob Creamer.
“She’s one of the best hitters I’ve ever seen in 30 years of coaching softball and baseball,” Creamer said.
“She has a knack to put the barrel on it, but she didn’t put the barrel on either one of those balls and they went over the fence. Test that bat, prove to me that I’m wrong and I’m perfectly happy.”
The on-field exchange between the two coaches could not fully be heard from the stands, but Coyle stating “she’s strong,” was audible.
“It’s a legal bat,” Coyle said after the game. “They can see it, whatever they want. It’s a drop eight (bat). She swings a heavier bat probably than everybody out here. She’s strong enough and she can do it.”
Oaks Christian has one home, nonleague game remaining in the regular season, against Rio Mesa on Friday, and Westlake has three nonleague games left.
CIF Southern Section playoff brackets will be announced Saturday at 10 a.m.
Other softball scores from Tuesday:
Valencia 13, Golden Valley 0
Thousand Oaks 1, Newbury Park 0
West Ranch 17, Hart 7
Viewpoint 18, Crossroads 0
Canyon 10, Castaic 0
Agoura 25, Calabasas 7
