Viewpoint Softball Team Wins Season Finisher

The Viewpoint School softball team entered its regular-season finale against Providence aware of the fact that a Liberty League championship was unattainable, but the Patriots played as if a title was on the line. 

That mentality was adopted several weeks ago, and it served Viewpoint well.

Such was the case on Thursday as the Patriots avoided overlooking the host Pioneers en route to an 11-2 victory at Olive Park in Burbank, a win that clinched second place in the league.  

"We were prepared and ready for Providence, just like we've been for most of our games,'' Viewpoint coach Pam Ozeransky said. "Our approach has been to be competitive, regardless of who we play and when and where we play them.''  

Sisters Blaire and Blythe Berka and Emily Ashton have been largely, though not solely, responsible for the Patriots' resolve, playing some inspired softball.  

Against Providence on Thursday, Blaire Berka pitched a complete game to pick up the win for the Patriots, who scored all of their 11 runs over the course of the first four innings.    

"Viewpoint is a tough team with some very tough players on the roster,'' Providence coach Joel Curtis said. "They're a well coached team and you saw that out there today. They got the better of us, not much more to say.''  

With the CIF Southern Section playoffs beginning next week, the timing of the win couldn't have been better.

Having won five of their final six games, the Patriots possess plenty of momentum heading into postseason play and appear poised to make a run in Division VI.  

"Our goal was to win a league championship,'' Ozeransky said. "Once we knew it wasn't a possibility, we had to adjust to our situation. Now, I think we've figured things out. Now, we're prepared to move forward and have some success.''  

There was, however, a time when things didn't look so optimistic.  

The Patriots (10-8-1 overall, 8-2 in league) lost twice to the league's first-place team, Faith Baptist.

And while the score in both games was close, the setbacks ruined any hopes of a title.

A three-game losing streak in April didn't help matters.  

"We have played some tough games against some good competition this year,'' Ozeransky said. "Sure, we might've lost some games along the way. Everyone does. But this group is better for having had those types of experiences.  

"The playoffs are the only thing that matters now. The girls understand what's at stake. We're ready to see how the rest of the story is written.''