SOFTBALL

Coach Darwin Tolzin of Westlake had a tough decision to make last weekend: coach two softball games in the Thousand Oaks tournament on Saturday or travel to Fresno for his granddaughter’s first communion.

“I think I surprised my wife,” Tolzin said. “In 40 years of softball, that’s the first time softball was second.”

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Senioritis is having no effect on Westlake ace Erin Voeltz, who is gaining momentum as the playoffs approach.

Voeltz (14-7) allowed one earned run and struck out 62 in 51 innings last week. She allowed three runs and recorded four shutouts.

The Georgia Tech-bound senior matched Cerritos ace Jessica van der Linden pitch for pitch in the Dons’ 2-0 quarterfinal-round victory in the Thousand Oaks tournament.

Voeltz and van der Linden, who is headed to Florida State, each pitched a three-hitter and struck out 11.

“I’ll stack Erin up against anybody,” Tolzin said. “She’s just a bulldog.”