Chaminade Finds Replacement for Injured LeCocq, But at a Cost

Chaminade High recently showed it could be a force long after Stanford-bound pitcher Maureen LeCocq graduates.

But that information came at a lofty price.

Freshman Christina Lupacchini pitched three innings of effective relief last week in a 6-3 nonleague victory over Simi Valley after the right-handed LeCocq, The Times’ Valley pitcher of the year last season, dislocated her left shoulder.

However, Chaminade notified Simi Valley late last week that it would forfeit the victory because the Eagles violated Southern Section rules by allowing Lupacchini to pitch at two different levels on the same day.

Lupacchini was pitching in the junior varsity game when she was summoned by Coach Steve Harrington to replace LeCocq.

“When he said [he was calling up a junior varsity pitcher], I assumed that he had someone who hadn’t pitched [that day],” Simi Valley Coach Suzanne Manlet said.

The Eagles fell to 0-3 Saturday when they were swept by nationally ranked Mater Dei in a nonleague doubleheader.

Lupacchini pitched those games, but LeCocq is expected back today for a nonleague game against Crescenta Valley.

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Despite losing its two best hitters to graduation, Thousand Oaks’ offense is far from hurting.

The Lancers (6-0), who ascended to the No. 1 spot in The Times’ regional rankings after winning four games last week, are batting .314 as a team.

“The kids are working really hard,” Coach Gary Walin said. “I’m working really hard--I’m throwing 300 pitches a day, but so does every other coach out there.”

Shawna Lane, a junior first baseman, went six for 13 and scored five runs in four games.

The Lancers aren’t living on offense alone. They have three errors.

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A team that commits six errors against a strong opponent shouldn’t expect to win.

But St. Paul did exactly that Saturday, beating Newbury Park, 5-4, in the Downey tournament.

“We weren’t mentally prepared to play,” Newbury Park Coach Pete Ackermann said.

Led by slugger Oli Keohohou, the Panthers (3-1) had seven hits against St. Paul. Newbury Park might have had more hits, but numerous line drives went straight to fielders. Some were handled, some weren’t.

“I wouldn’t have wanted to be behind any of those errors,” Ackermann said.

Staff writer Paige A. Leech and correspondent Dave Desmond contributed to this notebook.