Architect of San Pedro softball program that won its ninth L.A. City Section title in the last 10 years is "surprised” by top overall coaching honor. Also chosen for statewide recognition is Howard Miller from North of Torrance and Alan Borges from St. Bernard's of Eureka.

By Ronnie Flores, Managing Editor
Contributing: Paul Muyskens, Mark Tennis

When you've been the dominant program in your respective CIF section for over two decades, adding another title to the mantle might not be so unexpected.

At every level of sport, however, a championship season carries special meaning, even for a program that has won nine of the last 10 L.A. City Section softball championships, 10 of the last 12 and 13 of 18.

Such is the case for the San Pedro softball program and its head coach for the last 23 seasons, Tony Dobra. Going into the 2009 season, Dobra had to replace all-state pitcher Taylor Petty (Long Beach State), talented leadoff hitter Korin Cuico (UNLV) and all-state catcher Perelini Koria (Arizona) and her 45 career home runs off a team that finished 29-3 and ranked No. 11 in the state.

Dobra's new crop of girls responded in a big way, using timely hitting and superb defense to claim yet another L.A. City Section title with a 28-4 record and a No. 15 final rating.

For his program's sustained excellence and because of his penchant for continuously molding new talent into a championship-quality club, today Dobra has been named as the 2009 CalHiSports.com State Coach of the Year.

"This is my 13th title and it was a very unique one," remarked Dobra, who has won more reported section tiles than any other coach in state history. "While there are always a couple of kids on the team from the year before, I was thinking 'we're not going to be able to replace them (Petty, Koria, etc.).' I didn't know what to expect this season to tell you the truth."

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Junior pitcher ends with unique one-hitter as Eagles win CIFSS Div. II softball title in matchup of nationally-ranked teams. Broncos had not been shut out in 49 games. Also, El Segundo loses in Div. IV final.

By Mark Tennis, Executive Editor

It wasn't your typical one-hit shutout, but it was one that softball coaches everywhere would probably love to see.

Natalie Pulver from Etiwanda High of Rancho Cucamonga threw the one-hitter and she did it in the CIF Southern Section Div. II championship on Friday night at Deanna Manning Stadium in Irvine over a squad from Vista Murrieta of Murrieta that hadn't been blanked in 49 straight previous games and had scored at least five runs in every playoff game so far this season.

Etiwanda's 4-0 victory gave the program its second CIFSS title – the first came in Division I in 2002 – and also was against an opponent that entered the game at No. 13 in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 national rankings and was No. 6 in the state. The Eagles wrapped up a 29-2 season record themselves and will no doubt move up a great deal next week from their own ranking positions of No. 27 in the nation and No. 10 in the state.

Vista Murrieta (27-5) was frustrated throughout the game by Pulver's ability to switch speeds. According to head coach David Masucci, she even added a third speed specifically for the one game, taking into account the Broncos' powerful lineup, led by twins Tatum and Taylor Edwards.

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