Good luck tomorrow as most of you kick off your HS Season (against each other). I am sure you all will do a great job and play as hard as you did in that 11-game winning stretch during fall ball.

These were the words sent out by Tim Dow, coach of the So Cal Ringers travel team, to softball players from La Cañada and John Burroughs (Burbank) high schools.

Dow and Jim Mulligan(Ringers' coach) were looking forward, with mixed emotions, to the reunion of their players. This time, however, there would be Ringers in both dugouts.

The La Cañada Spartans traveled to George Izay Park in Burbank to take on the Indians of John Burroughs in a friendly scrimmage game. Casey Matthews, the Spartans new head coach, would face Steven Garcia, new head coach for the Indians.

The Spartans opened the first inning with singles by Kylie Mulligan, Kelly Horner, Devon Zerebko, and Amanda Ulf - scoring two runs. For their part, the Indians went down in order.

In the second inning, the Indians' defense held its own as the Spartans went scoreless on a single. Burroughs managed singles by Liz Hanna and Lizzie Peters, but failed to score.

The thirdinning saw the Spartans add one more run as Anna Edwards walked and Devon Zerebko boomed a double to left field, only to be thrown out at third base. The Indians went down in order.

Leading 3-0, the Spartans had a lull in their offense as they sent 10 batters to the plate over the next three innings without scoring.

The Indians scored their only run of the game in the fourth inning as Keri Hodgins, Casey Reichelderfer, and Cassie Colón were walked; Reichelderfer scored on a fielder's choice.

In the seventh and final inning, the Spartans managed three more runs on two singles and a double - Zerebko's second of the game.

Matthews had to be impressed with the results, winning 6-1. For his part, coach Garcia made note of the strengths and weakness of the 2008 Indian squad.

For both men, the scrimmage was an opportunity to prepare for the first regular season games - just one week away.