Byline: VINCENT BONSIGNORE
San Fernando High has been in business more than 100 years, long enough to nourish and nurture a distinguished athletic program that's produced Los Angeles City champions in sports ranging from football to baseball.
Yet you won't find a single trophy or plaque on campus indicating a tournament championship in softball.
Tigers coach Pete Bernal has been with San Fernando for three years, but he's been a fan of the Tigers for more than a decade and knows the history of the program.
``We've never won one,'' Bernal said. ``Not even once.''
That might soon change after San Fernando ambushed Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and Newbury Park Saturday at the Daily News Spring Classic. The two surprising victories - 11-1 over the Knights and 3-1 over the Panthers - put the Tigers into next Saturday's semifinal against Westlake.
Two more wins and they'll have their first tournament championship. More important, they're forcing people to take notice of a program on the climb. By beating two teams from the Southern Section, one from the mighty Marmonte League and the other from the esteemed Mission, San Fernando (11-2) is nudging its way into the spotlight.
``I think this shows we can play with anybody and that's very pleasing to us because we've worked hard and we believe in ourselves,'' said first baseman Olga Hernandez. ``Hopefully, now people will take notice.''
How can they not after what the Tigers pulled off Saturday, especially talented young pitcher Selena Salazar, who handcuffed Notre Dame on five hits and four strikeouts and then shut down Newbury Park before finally surrendering a triple with one out in the last inning.
Salazar, a ninth grader, gives San Fernando something it's lacked over the years - a dominating pitcher who gives her team a chance to win every time it steps on the field.
``Not bad for a ninth grader,'' Bernal said.
But it's not just Salazar. The Tigers have a nice blend of newcomers and veterans, with second baseman Julie Jiminez and Hernandez the senior leaders and youngsters like Salazar and outfielder Leilani Madrigal providing an infusion of fresh enthusiasm.
Coming of a 19-9 year in which it advanced to the second round of the City playoffs, San Fernando was confident it was in position to do even better things this year. Not that anybody else noticed. With little softball history behind the Tigers, respect hasn't come as quickly as some would like.
``Nobody was talking about us at all at the beginning of the year,'' Jiminez said. ``We'd read the papers and see all these other teams getting mentioned, but we got nothing. But the thing is, we knew we were going to be good and that's all that matters.''
Bernal cautioned the Tigers on getting too caught up in what other people were thinking. He knew only one thing would change perception and that was winning.
``All the girls have been saying (people) are always bragging about Birmingham and we don't get squat,'' Bernal said. ``And I just told them to keep winning, because it will come.''
Maybe now it finally has.
``Hopefully, people can see we can play with anyone and it doesn't matter where we're from,'' Hernandez said.
This was a rough week for the Tigers. Like the rest of the sports teams in the City Section, they missed playing some games because of the bus strike, spending most of the week practicing and wondering when they'd take the field again. The biggest disappointment was not playing Valley Mission League rival Sylmar Thursday.
``Once we realized we weren't going to be able to play, we focused on this weekend,'' Hernandez said.
Looks like it paid off.
