Junior softball champions
The Malibu Juniors softball team won its first District 25 Little League Softball Tournament of Champions title on June 19. The group of 13-15-year-old girls defeated the North Venice Blue Jays, 1-0, in the final game of the tournament, which took place at Malibu Bluffs Park.
Malibu scored the game’s only run on a bunt by Cheyenne “Queen” Cantor in the fourth inning, bringing home Sonja “Jason” Van Solen. Sarah “Pucci” Zweig pitched a complete game, one-hit shutout for the Malibu Juniors, yielding only four base runners.
Malibu escaped its only jam in the second inning. With runners on second and third bases and only one out, first baseman Gina “Lefty” Rogari snagged a line drive and fired to shortstop Lauren “Rabbit” Haag for the double play. No other North Venice player reached second base.
Carol “Forest” Yang made the last play of the game with a race to first for North Venice’s final out.
The Malibu Juniors finished their season at 17-1-1. Their championship banner from District 25 will be displayed at the entrance to Malibu Bluffs Park.
Pepperdine Breakers win tennis league
The Pepperdine Breakers tennis team won the Westside Tennis League B1 Division tournament. The Westside Tennis League consists of a group of tennis clubs from the Westside.
Wave women’s golf coach receives top honor
Laurie Gibbs, head coach of the Pepperdine University women’s golf team, was named coach of the year by the publication, Golfweek. The Waves placed fourth in the NCAA championships this year. The team won the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge and the WCC Championship. Pepperdine finished in the Top 5 in every tournament, posting a 131-20 record.
Gibbs became Pepperdine’s head coach in 1993. This is her first year being named coach of the year.
Malibuites race for a cause
Malibu Rotary member and past President John Elman got a chance to run with his daughter, Shana, in the Rotary International Centennial Convention 8K race, which took place on June 19 in Milwaukee.
More than 700 runners and more than 3,300 walkers from more than 80 countries participated in the race, which raised $50,000 for Rotary’s program to eradicate polio.
-Tiffany Linder and Jonathan Friedman