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Lionettes win Debut, 1-0

The Santa Ana Lionettes got off to a successful start in the newly formed Women's Professional Softball league Saturday night before a crowd of 5,226 at the Santa Ana Bowl. The Lionettes pushed over an unearned run in the 10th inning to defeat Rosie Black and the San Bernardino Gems, 1-0 in the opener.

The only run of the opening contest came with one out in the bottom of the 10th. Lionette general manager Shirley Toply was safe on a two-base throwing error and scored when a grounder to third was thrown away. Rosie Black, famed for her traveling "Queen and Her Maids" touring show, was effective in the first few innings, striking out three of the first five batters she faced.

"She is a fine pitcher," said Topley after the game. "It took us a little while to time her pitches. It was the first time we had ever faced her." Carol Spanks, former owner of the Orange Lionettes, continued to show why she is one of the top hitters in softball. Spanks laced a line drive at Black to lead off the game, skied a shot to short in the fourth and got the only Lionette hit of the contest in the seventh with leadoff single to center.

In the seventh inning, Spanks moved to second on Debbie Ricketts sacrifice bunt and took third on Black's wild pitch. Black recorded a strike out and a pop out to get out of the inning, the only frame that she was in trouble until the 10th. Cathy Benedetto of the Lionettes was in trouble in the early innings of the opener. She gave up a one-out walk in the first inning but got out of the inning when Black lined to second; with Gail Hamilton relaying the throw to first for a double play.

The Gems had their best opportunity in the second. Sue Peterson led off with a single and sped to third on Sylvia Holly's single. Benedetto had a wild pitch but Topley grabbed the ball and tossed to Benedetto to get Peterson trying to score from third. Karen Baird walked and stole second but a strike out and a ground out ended the inning.

The Gems got only two more hits for the remainer of the game. Benedetto (1-0) concluded the game with nine strike outs, including Black three times, while walking four. Black (1-1) had eight strike outs and three walks.

To read more articles from the 1976 season, see below.