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The So Cal Pumas travel softball team had its bid to capture the 18-under "A" USA/ASA National Championship hurt Sunday in Las Vegas when the team van transporting 17 players and coaches to Majestic Park for a scheduled 8 a.m. game against the Tampa Mustangs was struck by a suspected drunk driver.

The driver of the vehicle, who was later hospitalized, ran a red light and hit the team van on the right side, resulting in four players suffering various injuries and coach Jim Wike breaking his right hand. Assistant coach Dave Fox, the head softball coach at Pacifica High in Oxnard, suffered bruised ribs.

As a result, the Pumas were forced to forfeit their winner's-bracket final against the Mustangs, who later defeated Ohio's Elyria Sundogs 7-5 for the championship.

Tournament directors gave the Pumas extra time to prepare for their second-chance bracket final against Elyria, with a victory giving Wike's team an opportunity to square off against the Mustangs later in the day for the national championship. But the Pumas couldn't protect a four-run lead and lost 5-4 to finish in third place in the 140-team field.

In addition to athletes from Arroyo Grande, Buena of Ventura and Pacifica, the Pumas also feature Agoura's Stephanie Lord, Camarillo's Lyndsay Flartey, Grace Brethren of Simi Valley's Danielle Fletcher, La Reina of Thousand Oaks' Sarah Fox, Newbury Park's Nicole Checkie and Robin Hammond, Oaks Christian of Westlake Village's Kiana Quolas, Rio Mesa of Oxnard's Devin Amar and Westlake's Kylie McNutt.

DIV. I

No. 4 Hart (27-4) at No. 1 Norco (30-2)

DIV. V

No. 4 Village Christian (26-5) at San Dimas (24-4)

Eagle Rock, led by senior pitcher Theresa Kelley (16-9, 237 strikeouts, 0.96 ERA), will attempt to prevent the Marine League from sweeping both City Section titles today when it faces Narbonne of Harbor City in the Invitational final at 2 p.m. at UCLA's Easton Stadium.

Top-seeded San Pedro (27-4) will look to record its fourth victory this season over Marine rival Banning of Wilmington (21-11), the No. 6 seed, in the City championship game at 4:15 p.m.

San Pedro is seeking its fourth consecutive City title and record 16th overall.

Eagle Rock (17-9), the No. 19 seed, rebounded from a 2-1 opening-round loss to Sylmar to defeat Crenshaw 9-1, Huntington Park 15-3 and Northern League rival Wilson of El Sereno 4-1 to advance to the Invitational final.

Narbonne (16-7-1), the No. 12 seed, bounced back from a 10-7 first-round loss to No. 21 Venice to shut out Eastern League opponents Roosevelt (10-0), Bell (7-0) and Garfield (3-0) en route to today's contest.

In addition to Theresa Kelley (.376, 23 RBIs) -- daughter of coach Martin Kelley -- Vicky Delgado (.407, 19 runs, 15 RBIs), Veronica Solis (.406, 12 runs, 18 RBIs) and Arelly Alvarez (.316, 22 runs, 15 RBIs) will look to carry the Eagle Rock offense.

The Gauchos are led by Elia Lizarraga (.545, 27 runs, 22 RBIs) and Kristina Torrez (.438, 14 runs, 19 RBIs). Lizarraga (16-6, 1.87 ERA, 174 Ks), a sophomore, is also expected to start for Narbonne.

DIV. I

No. 1 Norco (29-2) at Thousand Oaks (25-5)
Esperanza (19-13-1) vs. No. 4 Hart (26-4) at Newhall Park

DIV. III

Chino Hills (22-10-1) at No. 3 Crescenta Valley (26-1)
Glendora (20-4) at No. 2 Oaks Christian (26-4-1)

DIV. V

No. 4 Village Christian (25-5) at San Jacinto (18-5)

DIV. VI

Grace Brethren (13-6) at No. 3 Marymount (22-4)

DIV. I
Wild card, today
Kennedy at Westlake
Orange Lutheran at Canyon
Camarillo at Agoura
First round, Thursday
Kennedy/Westlake at Norco
Saugus at Thousand Oaks
Moorpark at Rio Mesa
Trabuco Hills at No. 4 Hart
Canyon/Orange Lutheran at No. 3 Canyon/A
Los Alamitos at Simi Valley
Agoura/Camarillo at Valencia
DIV. III
Wild card, today
Burbank at Chino
Lancaster at Pioneer Valley
La Reina at Quartz Hill
Arroyo Grande at Flintridge Sacred Heart
First round, Thursday
Fillmore/Atascadero at Chaminade
Highland at Warren
Burroughs at Oak Park
Lancaster/Pioneer Valley at Aliso Niguel
Summit at No. 3 Crescenta Valley
La Reina/Quartz Hill at Alemany
Arcadia/Charter Oak at Knight
Arroyo Grande/Flintridge Sacred Heart at No. 2 Oaks Christian
DIV. V
Wild card, today
Paraclete at Mayfield
Flintridge Prep at Woodcrest Christian
First round, Thursday
Paraclete/Mayfield at La Canada
Pasadena Poly/Estancia at No. 4 Village Christian
Flintridge Prep/Woodcrest Christian at No. 3 Montebello
DIV. VI
Wild card, today
Faith Baptist at Malibu
First round, Thursday
Faith Baptist/Malibu at No. 1 La Salle
Alverno at Campbell Hall
Providence at Nordhoff
Santa Clarita Christian at Grace Brethren
Boron at Viewpoint
DIV. VII
First round, Thursday
Summit View at St. Genevieve
Bell-Jeff at Connelly
Montclair Prep at North County Christian
Valley Christian/SM at Cornerstone Christian/C

We ran out of room in the newspaper for the full box scores of the Thousand Oaks games, so here are the results from their two games tonight.

The Lancers played twice in the Best of the West Tournament and won both. In the first round game, they beat Lompoc 8-4 with Josie Tressel starting, leaving, then returning and winning the game as the pitcher. Alysha Payne hitting two doubles and Taylor Yamek one to lead the offense.

In game two, the Lancers beat Whitney High School of Rocklin (a suburb of Sacramento) 7-3 in a darkness-shortened, five-inning game. Yamek won the game as the pitcher and had another double, while Sophie Airington and Kaelee Nelson had triples.

Thousand Oaks play two more games in the Tournament Tuesday and once more Wednesday.

Shannon Doepking (ex-Highland) and Makenzie Smith (ex-Desert Christian) are slated to play professionally overseas in the European Softball Federation, according to a story in the Antelope Valley Press.

Doepking, who played college softball at Tennessee, is playing for Old Parma in Italy. Smith, who played at Illinois, is playing for the Euro Stars in the Netherlands.

-- Gerry Gittelson

With the early signing period looming, L.A. Baptist softball player Jazmin Rodriguez has committed to Long Island, where she'll join her friend Bianca Mejia, a former El Camino Real standout.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com

Already recognized by Cal-Hi Sports as its State Player of the Year and EA Sports as it National Player of the Year in softball, Valencia graduate Jessica Spigner was recently honored as girls' Div. I State Athlete of the Year by Cal-Hi Sports' Deputy Editor Mark Tennis.

Although the Tennessee-bound Spigner was nominated against several multi-sport athletes, her season as both a pitcher and hitter was one of the most impressive in state history. In addition to leading the state with 29 victories and striking out 222 batters with a 0.62 ERA, Spigner hit a team-leading .480 with 12 home runs -- most among area seniors -- 37 runs and 38 RBIs to contribute to the Vikings capturing back-to-back Southern Section Div. I championships.

Spigner pitched a four-hitter in a 3-0 victory over previously unbeaten Simi Valley in the Div. I final. She was recently recognized as a second-team All-American by Louisville Slugger and the National Fastpitch Coaches Association. Teammate Madison Shipman, who has also committed to Tennessee, was an honorable mention selection.

Spigner had previously been honored as a first-team West Regional selection and Shipman a second-team honoree by Louisville Slugger and NFCA.

According to The Signal, Bob Shults is the new softball coach at West Ranch, replacing Cassandra Perez, who went 5-12 this past season.

Shults is the father of Jessica Shults, a returning standout at Foothill League rival Hart.

gerry.gittelson@dailynews.com