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Simi Valley freshman tosses one-hitter
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Simi Valley High has a veteran softball team, but it took a freshman to finish off its undefeated regular season.
Sophia Perez tossed a one-hitter in her first varsity start as Simi Valley edged host Agoura 1-0 on Thursday, giving the Pioneers a 27-0 record and 14-0 Marmonte League mark heading into the CIF-Southern Section playoffs that begin next week.
Perez, recently brought up to the varsity when pitcher Amanda Oliveto was injured, retired the final 20 batters after Agoura had runners on first and second with one out in the first after a catcher's interference call and a single by Desiree Beltran. Perez (1-0) struck out eight and walked none.
"I kind of tried not to think about it," said Perez, referring to the perfect record. "But with these girls, anything that gets hit, I know the ball's going to get stopped."
Perez admitted she was nervous in the first inning, but after that, it was another story.
"I started her today to see what she could do and get ready for CIF," said coach Russ Michael. "She's only 14, but she's mature above that. I wasn't worried about her confidence or anything. I've seen her at the JV level and had her up throwing batting practice for the varsity, and I figured she could do it."
Simi Valley scored the game's only run in the third inning, when Rebecca Grant tripled — on a ball caught by Agoura's Shannon Kaufman that came free when Kaufman ran into the center-field fence — and came home on a sacrifice fly by Amber Olive.
Michael — at Simi Valley since 1994 as an assistant or head coach — said he is not aware of a Marmonte League team that has gone undefeated through the regular season. "This is history," he told his team.
Kim Green (13-9) scattered five hits, striking out three and walking one, for Agoura (14-11, 7-7).
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