Unmatched Marmonte Gears Up for Another Softball Showdown

Few would argue that the Marmonte League plays the best high school softball in Southern California.

The league has sent four teams to the Southern Section Division I playoffs in each season since 1993, the first year of a 32-team draw. In the last six years, Marmonte teams have won two section titles and have played in four finals, six semifinals and 11 quarterfinals.

Camarillo, the Division I runner-up last season, and Thousand Oaks, which returns all of its starters from the league’s third-place team, are the front-runners.

League play begins Tuesday with interesting matchups.

First-year Westlake Coach Darwin Tolzin, who was forced out as Camarillo coach in 1995 after conducting an illegal weekend practice with a player and then lying about it to administrators, faces Camarillo in his return Tuesday. First-year Camarillo Coach Miki Mangan was Tolzin’s catcher when the Scorpions won the section title in 1991.

Thousand Oaks has a tough opener against Simi Valley, which has five returning starters, two outstanding newcomers and a history of pulling upsets.

Thousand Oaks left-hander Jennifer Sharron, who has signed with Notre Dame, and Camarillo junior right-hander Cindy Ball will be difficult to beat.

Both pitchers had earned-run averages under 0.50 last season. But one of them is certain to lose, barring a tie, when the teams meet Thursday at Camarillo.