Great balls of fire

As the baseball and softball teams wrap up season play, each are on the way to one of their finest in recent history.

With both teams missing the the playoffs last year, the significant turnaround that these teams made has some talking even bringing a championship home.

But before they can do that, the teams have to prove themselves in the playoffs. A spectaular regular season dosen't matter if you don't win a title, or even get close to one.

The baseball team is currently 30-10 on the year and 16-5 in the South Coast Conference
South Division. For most of the year, the team has been ranked as one of the top two teams in Southern California and in its respective division.

It has alternated between the No. 1 and No. 2 spot throughout the season with Santa Ana. Up until yesterday, it was No. 1 in the division and in the state.

But three straight losses, two to El Camino and one to East L.A. yesterday, 6-2, put them down to No. 3 in the region and No. 2 in their division. L.A. Harbor, who the Falcons beat in smashing fashion this season, is now the division leader.

Players say that the ranking dosen't effect them, but if they lose tommorow, it will be very anticlimatic way to end the season. The Falcons will have to practice the things that got it this far, such as timely hitting, a strong defense and consistent pitching, to keep its season alive.

On the opposite end of the gender spectrum, the softball team is making serious noise as well. It finished the regular season 30-9-1 and finished second in the SCC with a 12-3.

Unlike the basebal team, it has not cooled off as the season down. Four of the team's last seven wins were won in less than seven innings. Coach Murray has always told the team to hold on to your lead and not getting too comfortable.

The team did have its bumpy roads during the season, but you can tell by their play that they heeded what Murray told them.

Ever since a March 8 loss against Pasadena,the team has been more proficient in gaining and keeping leads. If the team can practice those qualities, it'll definitley make more noise within the state.