Box office: 'Amazing Spider-Man 2' catches $8.7 million Thursday night

"The Amazing Spider-Man 2" -- the fifth flick featuring the web-slinging hero in 14 years -- is spinning toward a strong opening weekend. 

The sequel to 2012's franchise reboot "The Amazing Spider-Man" snatched $8.7 million in ticket sales from Thursday night showings in the U.S., according to its distributor, Sony Pictures Entertainment. 

The movie -- starring Andrew Garfield as Spidey and Emma Stone as love interest Gwen Stacy and directed by Marc Webb -- is expected to gross $95 million or more domestically through Sunday. 

An $8.7-million Thursday night puts "Spider-Man" a bit behind the most recent superhero blockbuster, Marvel Studios' "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," which grossed $10.2 million from Thursday night showings on its way to a $95-million opening weekend, the biggest debut of the year so far. Late shows for "Winter Soldier" probably benefitted from much of its young-male-skewing audience being on spring break. 

The first "Amazing Spider-Man," which also starred Garfield and Stone, and the Sam Raimi-directed "Spider-Man 3" from 2007, starring Tobey Maguire, both opened to $7.5 million on their respective late-night preview kickoffs.

"The Amazing Spider-Man" opened wide on the Tuesday of a July 4 weekend and went on to gross $137 million in its first six days in U.S. release. "Spider-Man 3" opened with $151 million in its first three days.  

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ryan.faughnder@latimes.com

Twitter: @rfaughnder

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Chevron profit plunges on lower production, prices

Chevron Corp. reported a steep decline in first quarter profit because of lower global oil prices and bad weather that slowed oil production. 

Chevron said Friday that it earned $4.52 billion in the first three months of the year on revenue of $50.98 billion. Last year during the same period, Chevron earned $6.18 billion on revenue of $54.3 billion. 

On a per share basis, Chevron earned $2.36, down from $3.18 last year. Analysts had expected Chevron to earn $2.54, on average, according to FactSet. 

Chevron shares fell 2 cents to $124.92 in morning trading. 

Chevron and other major oil companies are struggling to maintain production as they drain oil and gas from their fields around the world. At the same time, the cost of exploring new fields is rising as they have to venture into more extreme and remote conditions to access hydrocarbons. 

Profits are getting squeezed as these costs rise, because average oil prices have been roughly flat for about three years. 

Chevron is developing several enormous projects in Australia and the Gulf of Mexico that are expected to help the company grow production in the coming years. But they aren't producing anything yet, and analysts worry about the company's ability to get the projects up and running on time and on budget. 

In the first quarter of this year, Chevron's oil and gas production fell 2 percent worldwide. In the U.S., production fell 4 percent as higher production of oil and gas in New Mexico and western Pennsylvania were more than offset by normal field declines elsewhere. 

Overseas, where Chevron produces the vast majority of its oil and gas, production fell 2 percent. Increased production from projects on Nigeria and Angola was offset by field declines and weather-related shut-downs in Kazakhstan. 

The average price Chevron fetched for its crude oil fell 3 percent both in the U.S. and abroad as oil prices around the world slipped slightly. 

Results at Chevron's refining operations rose slightly, thanks to improved performance in the U.S. 

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Dodgers' eight-hours-plus equals two wins over Twins

MINNEAPOLIS — About the only thing longer than a Dodgers game these days is two Dodgers games, which is what the team played Thursday on another frigid, rainy day in Minnesota.

And after two games, 21 innings, 773 pitches, 28 walks, five Dodgers errors and 8 hours 12 minutes of baseball, the visitors had won twice, taking the opener in a 9-4 laugher and winning the nightcap, 4-2, in 12 innings.

That it took a full day to get through all that is nothing new for the Dodgers, whose games are averaging 3 hours 16 minutes, longest of any team in the majors. Seven of those games, including Thursday's nightcap, have gone to extra innings, also most in the majors.

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FOR THE RECORD:
Dodgers-Twins: This article, which appeared in the May 2 Sports section, stated that the score of the second game of the Dodgers-Twins doubleheader was 4-2. The score was 4-3.

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"If it's right around three hours, it's not a big deal," first baseman Adrian Gonzalez said. "That's the beauty of baseball. No time. And we want to keep it that way.

"We don't want to put a clock and time on the game."

But the commissioner's office has done just that. Concerned about the pace of play, MLB has put a stopwatch on games in an effort to find a way to speed them up. And what they found is an average Dodgers game this season has had four more minutes of playing time than the Miami Heat needed for its entire playoff series with the Charlotte Bobcats.

In Thursday's second game alone, the Dodgers were on the field 41 minutes longer than the U.S. soccer team was during the entire 2006 World Cup.

Of course the Dodgers were just standing around for most of that time, while the soccer players were actually playing soccer, making the comparison strained in Manager Don Mattingly's opinion.

"It's a lot simpler than you're making it," he said of the effect lengthy games have had on his players. "What's that mean?"

Well for starters, it means the Dodgers are throwing a lot of pitches — in fact only two teams, the White Sox and Diamondbacks, have thrown more this season. And that may have something to do with the Dodgers' big-league-leading 31 errors in 29 games.

"It's tough to be able to focus that long on a nightly basis," outfielder Andre Ethier said. "You definitely notice when you get the short ones. You're in and out, you get things done."

Ethier said games that drag on can also affect a team's momentum on offense because players go longer between at-bats.

Mattingly isn't so sure, saying the length of a game isn't nearly as important as its rhythm.

"Each game is individual," he said. "If the pitcher would work really, really slow, yeah that effects guys. If the game has a good tempo to it, it's easier to play like that. No doubt about that.

"But I don't think anybody is sitting here thinking, 'Oh this is 3 hours and 12 minutes.' You play each game individually."

Second baseman Dee Gordon agrees — and he's speaking from experience, having played a pair of five-hour games in winter ball.

"I played a few real long games," Gordon, who played all 21 innings Thursday, with a smile. "I don't really think about it, to be totally honest with you."

Then there's Drew Butera, who, as a catcher, is involved in every pitch when his team is on the field. He said long games can be taxing physically but he doesn't really pay attention to the clock.

"As a player you're into the game whether it's an hour or whether it's five hours," said Butera, whose first homer since 2012 proved to be the game-winner in Thursday's second game. "I don't even know how long the game takes when I'm behind the plate.

"By the time the game's over I'm like 'What time is it?' I have no idea."

kevin.baxter@latimes.com

Twitter: @kbaxter11

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'Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D' video: See Ward, Garrett in 'Ragtag' old days

"Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D."  is nearing the conclusion of its first season — but before the May 13 finale comes Tuesday's penultimate installment, "Ragtag," which explores Grant Ward's tumultuous personal history.

Those who aren't current with the series might want to stop reading now as spoilers are ahead. But curious Hero Complex readers can exclusively watch the opening of Tuesday's episode in the video below, a flashback scene that traces a key meeting in young Grant's life.

Ward, played by actor Brett Dalton, was recently exposed as an agent of HYDRA, the evil organization that had infiltrated S.H.I.EL.D., the discovery of which prompted no less than Captain America (Chris Evans) to see to the the agency's destruction in Marvel's April blockbuster "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

Those events bled over into the world of the series, radically altering the political landscape for the series' group of operatives — Agent Phil Coulson (Clark Gregg), Ming-Na Wen's Melinda May, Iain De Caestecker's Leo Fitz, Elizabeth Henstridge's Jemma Simmons and Chloe Bennet's Skye, who discovered Brett Dalton's Grant Ward was a traitor in their midst.

In an interview with Hero Complex, "S.H.I.E.L.D." show runners Jed Whedon and Maurissa Tancharoen confirmed that they had known about the "Winter Soldier" plot twist well in advance, and had planned all along to incorporate the twist into their series.

"With all the Marvel films, we see the scripts ahead of time," Whedon said. "We try to have them affect our story in some way because we all live in the same universe and anything that happens in the show or in the movies affects the universe."

"It's a very unique opportunity for our show to be able to interweave with these huge Marvel movies," Tancharoen added. "It's something that not really any other show gets to do, and to be playing with these bigger threads, that's something that we always knew from the outset that we'd be able to do."

"Ragtag" sees more secrets revealed, with Coulson's team embarking on an undercover mission that sets the stage for the final episode of the first season. Guest starring in the episode are Bill Paxton as the revealed-as-HYDRA- S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent John Garrett, B.J. Britt as Agent Antoine Triplett, Ruth Negga as Raina, David Conrad as Ian Quinn and J. August Richards, playing Deathlok.

Are you gearing up for the "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." finale? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section — and scroll through the gallery above for a behind-the-scenes look at the series from earlier in its run.

— Gina McIntyre | @LATHeroComplex

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New Angel Stadium land appraisal could affect lease negotiations

The land upon which Angel Stadium sits is worth $325 million if the ballpark is demolished and $225 million if the Angels stay and the surrounding land is leased to a developer, according to an appraisal commissioned by the city of Anaheim that was released Friday.

The appraisal could help the Angels and the city agree on how much money Anaheim should get in a new stadium lease deal with the team. Yet the appraisal also could harden the stances of Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait, who considers the proposed deal a taxpayer giveaway, and the Angels, who have considered walking away from the idea of developing any land surrounding Angel Stadium and simply focusing on whether to renovate the ballpark or build a new one elsewhere.

The highest value for the land, according to the appraisal, would come if the Angels move out and the city could sell the entire 153-acre site. If the Angels stay, the appraisal assumes the 133 acres surrounding the stadium would be developed but does not assume the team would be the developer. Tait and other city officials say they want the Angels to stay.

The Angels' current lease requires the city to provide 12,500 surface parking spaces. The appraised values assume an agreement to convert at least some of those spaces to parking structures. No such agreement is in place.

In a letter to the city last week, Angels President John Carpino said he was concerned because an appraisal that did not consider the Angels' parking rights and capital contribution to Angel Stadium could produce an unreasonably high value and "lead to an unworkable situation." The appraisal expressly omits any consideration of the costs of stadium renovation.

The Anaheim City Council last September approved the framework of a deal in which the Angels would pay for the estimated $150 million to keep the city-owned stadium operational for the long term, in exchange for the right to develop the surrounding parking lots, with a lease of $1 per year. Tait objected immediately, in part because the city had not arranged for an appraisal of the land.

The development rights would give Angels owner Arte Moreno a chance to make his money back on stadium renovations, with the likelihood he might spend closer to $500 million on stadium upgrades, development costs, and the parking structures that would be necessary to accommodate any significant development.

The city would take no financial risk, but Tait is concerned that Moreno might make a development windfall on city-owned land, leased at $1 per year but now appraised at more than $200 million. Once Moreno recoups his investment on stadium renovations, Tait wants the city to share in the development revenue.

"I'm simply looking for a decent return on the property," he said Thursday, before the appraisal was released.

He said he considered a 50-50 split to be appropriate but said he would be willing to let the Angels keep the majority of the money if they abandoned the Los Angeles name, a non-starter for Moreno. If the L.A. name stays, Tait said "that pushes it back toward a purely economic decision."

Tait has one of the five City Council votes. The other four members of the council approved the tentative deal last September; none has announced an intention to reconsider.

The Angels say Anaheim remains their first choice, but they have held exploratory talks regarding the feasibility of building a new ballpark in Tustin and Irvine.

The appraisal assumes the costs of parking structures and any other development infrastructure would be covered through bonds repaid by the developer. The appraisal does not estimate those costs but factors them into its "prospective estimate of market value."

bill.shaikin@latimes.com

Twitter: @BillShaikin

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Bach's Clavier-Ubung III -- another Disney first

Bach wrote four sets he called Clavier-übung, or keyboard practices. The first two and the last one contain some of his most famous harpsichord works now the province of pianists – the Six Partitas, The "Italian" Concerto and the "Goldberg" Variations. Clavier-übung III, known as the "German" Organ Mass, is far less often encountered.  

Supposedly, Paul Jacobs' performance at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday night will be its first ever performance in a Los Angeles concert hall. That is not easy to prove, given that Bach published his collection in 1739. Then again, not too many Los Angeles concert stages over the years have had organs, and none comparable to Disney's marvelous instrument.

The main reason that this collection, despite containing some of Bach's most brilliant and probing keyboard pieces, is so little known (even recordings outside of complete Bach organ sets aren't plentiful) is that the "German" Organ Mass is a peculiar miscellany. It contains the popular prelude and fugue, the massive "St. Anne," the prelude beginning the collection and the fugue, some two hours later, ending it.

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In between come 21 chorale preludes, each a contrapuntal fantasy around a Lutheran hymn tune. No two are similar and the variety is dazzling, ranging from extensive investigations in the harmonic depth and complexity to flute-like little fugues. Then follow four duettos, or two-part inventions.

Bach had his reasons, and what they might be has given scholars work for centuries as they scrutinize inner liturgical meaning. Organists are fascinated by amazing music that permits creativity, especially in how the player will chose to color the chorale preludes and duets with different kinds of organ stops.

As for audiences, they get a chance to discover a feast of Bach that, with the exception of the "St. Anne," hasn't gotten out in the concert world much – or maybe, as in L.A., at all.

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GM, Chrysler and Toyota see healthy boosts in April car sales

Car sales in the U.S. hit their highest monthly level since the mid-2000s for the month of April, as retailers moved an estimated 1.4 million vehicles.

Those strong monthly numbers suggest car sales for the year could hit 16.5 million, up as much as 10% over last year.

General Motors, despite its ongoing recall headaches, reported sales were up 7% over the same period a year ago, with a total of 254,076 vehicles sold. Sales to individual buyers were up 8%, while fleet sales rose 5%.

Chrysler saw a 14% increase in total April sales over the same month in 2013, to 178,652 units, for its best April since 2007. Ram pickup sales grew 17%, for the best April ever, and Jeep brand sales were higher for the month than any in the line's history -- up 52% over the same period in 2013.

Toyota said its U.S. sales for April rose 13.3%, to 199,660 vehicles, with especially strong activity in its truck division.

Ford reported sales of 211,126 vehicles in April, a drop of 1% from a year ago, with declines in car sales offset by strong performance by its F-series pickup division.

Nissan claimed an April record as well, selling a record 94,764 vehicles for the month, an increase of 18.5% over last year, with strong rises in sales of its Altima, Sentra and Versa models. The company's LEAF saw a sales bump of 33% for the year so far.

Volkswagen of America reported  30,831 units moved for the month, a drop of 8.4% from April a year ago. The company said its high-mileage TDI models accounted for 30% of total Volkswagen sales -- almost half of them from the Passat line.

Korean carmarker Hyundai also reported its best April ever, moving 66,107 vehicles for the period, a 4.4% gain over the same period in 2013.

"These are the best monthly numbers since before the recession started," said Edmunds.com senior analyst Jessica Caldwell, whose company reported that the previous high was April 2006, when monthly vehicle sales for April topped 1.44 million.

Caldwell said the increases were due to improved weather and lower interest rates.

"The year started off rocky, because of the bad weather," Caldwell said. "In March and April, people were actually able to get to dealerships and buy cars."

Lower interest rates meant more people leasing, with that kind of transaction accounting for as much as 28% of new car sales for the month -- up from 26% at this time last year and from 16% five years ago.

"It's driven by low interest rates – which is what most car shoppers are shopping on," Caldwell said. "The monthly cost of buying a car is the key number that's driving a lot of sales."

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L.A. theater openings, May 4-11: 'Letters from Zora' and more

Whitefire Theatre's Solofest 2014 gets underway, a struggling composer encounters "The Ghost of Gershwin" at Lonny Chapman Theatre, and Vanessa Bell Calloway delivers "Letters from Zola" at Pasadena Playhouse.

Turning Thirty Lisa Phillips Visca's new romantic comedy about contemporary relationships. The Other Space at Santa Monica Playhouse, 1211 4th St., Santa Monica. Sun., next Sun., 3 p.m.; Sat., 7:30 p.m.; ends June 29. $29. (310) 394-9779.

Vaudeville in the Park Independent Shakespeare Co. presents a variety show to benefit the annual Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Griffith Park (Old Zoo), 4730 Crystal Springs Drive, L.A. Sun., 3 p.m. $35 and up. (818) 710-6306.

Jeremy Jordan The Broadway and TV star ("Newsies," "Smash") performs. Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Mon., 7:30 and 10 p.m.; Tue., 8 p.m. $30, $40. (866) 468-3399.

got musical! Highlights from new musicals in development and more. Colony Theatre, 555 N. 3rd St., Burbank. Tue., 8 p.m. $10. (818) 506-8500.

I Never Met a Jerk I Didn't Like Tiffany Phillips explores the dating scene; part of Solofest 2014. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Wed., 8 p.m. $20-$35. (818) 990-2324.

CRITICS' PICKS: What to watch, where to go, what to eat

Unorganized Crime Chazz Palminteri stars in the world premiere of Kenny D'Aquila's dramedy about mob-family values. The Elephant Studio Theater, 1076 Lillian Way, Hollywood. Thu., 7 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 7 p.m.; ends May 31. $34.99. (800) 595-4849.

Ajax in Iraq Not Man Apart Physical Theatre Ensemble presents Ellen McLaughlin's mythologically informed examination of sexual assault in the modern-day military. Miles Memorial Playhouse, 1130 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica. Thu.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends June 1. $25; $10 student-rush on Thursdays. (818) 618-4772.

110 in the Shade A woman meets a charismatic stranger in a drought-stricken 1930s town in this musical based on "The Rainmaker." Actors Co-op Crossley Theatre, 1760 N. Gower St., Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2:30 p.m.; ends June 15. $25-$34. (323) 462-8460.

Failure Is an Option! Tom Rubin sends up motivational speakers; part of Solofest 2014. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Fri., 8 p.m. $20-$35. (818) 990-2324.

The Ghost of Gershwin World-premiere musical fantasy about an aspiring composer in present-day Brooklyn. Lonny Chapman Theatre, 10900 Burbank Blvd., North Hollywood. Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends June 22. $17, $22. (818) 763-5990.

Lily Tomlin The Grammy, Emmy and Tony winner revisits classic characters and favorite monologues. Valley Performing Arts Center, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge. Fri., 8 p.m. $30-$100. (818) 677-3000.

The Hebrew Hillbilly Shelley Fisher chronicles her life and showbiz career; part of Solofest 2014. Whitefire Theatre, 13500 Ventura Blvd., Sherman Oaks. Sat., 8 p.m. $20-$35. (818) 990-2324.

Holding the Man L.A. premiere of this adaptation of Timothy Conigrave's memoir about growing up gay in 1970s Melbourne, Australia. Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave., L.A. Sat., 8 p.m.; next Sun., 3 p.m.; ends June 29. $34.99. (323) 960-7735.

Silent Witnesses Writer-performer Stephanie Satie's one-person show based on the stories of child survivors of the Holocaust. Odyssey Theatre, 2055 S. Sepulveda Blvd., West L.A. Sat., 8 p.m. $20-$30. (310) 477-2055.

Stories by Heart Tony and Emmy winner John Lithgow celebrates the art of storytelling. Carpenter Performing Arts Center, 6200 Atherton St., Long Beach. Sat., 8 p.m. $65. (562) 985-7000.

Letters from Zora Vanessa Bell Calloway portrays African American writer Zora Neale Hurston. Pasadena Playhouse, 39 S. El Molino Ave., Pasadena. Opens Next Sun., 2 p.m.; ends May 18. $40-$100. (626) 356-7529.

Momentum Place Circus acts, aerialists dancers and musicians perform. Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, 1419 N. Topanga Canyon Blvd., Topanga. Next Sun., 2 p.m. $10-$30. (310) 455-2322.

different words for the same thing World premiere of Kimber Lee's drama about intertwined lives in a small Idaho town. Kirk Douglas Theatre, 9820 Washington Blvd., Culver City. Next Sun., 6:30 p.m.; ends June 1. $20-$55. (213) 628-2772.

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Daytime Emmy nominations: 'Ellen,' 'Sesame Street' among contenders

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the nominees for the 41st annual Daytime Emmy Awards on Thursday, with perennial favorites "The Ellen DeGeneres Show," "Sesame Street" and "The Young and the Restless" racking up multiple nods.

CBS led all other networks with 61 nominations, followed by PBS (44) and Nickelodeon (37), while "The Young and the Restless" was the most nominated show, with 26 nods.

The Daytime Emmys will be held June 22 at the Beverly Hilton, and the Daytime Creative Arts Emmys will be held on June 20 at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel.

Below is a select list of nominees. For a complete list, click here. 

Outstanding drama series: "The Young and the Restless" (CBS), "The Bold and the Beautiful" (CBS) and "Days of Our Lives" (NBC), "One Life to Live" (TOLN/Hulu). 

Outstanding game show: "Jeopardy!" (syndicated), "The American Bible Challenge" (Game Show Network), "The Chase" (Game Show Network), "Let's Make a Deal" (CBS), "The Price Is Right" (CBS), "Wheel of Fortune" (syndicated).

Outstanding morning show: "The Today Show" (NBC), "CBS This Morning," "CBS Sunday Morning," "Good Morning America" (ABC).

Outstanding talk show -- informative: "The Chew" (ABC), "The Dr. Oz Show" (syndicated), "Dr. Phil" (syndicated), "Steve Harvey" (syndicated).

Outstanding talk show -- entertainment: "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" (syndicated), "Live! With Kelly and Michael" (syndicated), "Rachael Ray" (syndicated), "The Talk" (CBS), "The View" (ABC).

Outstanding preschool children's series: "Sesame Street" (PBS), "Dino Dan" (Nickelodeon), "The Fresh Beat Band" (Nickelodeon), "Yo Gabba Gabba!" (Nickelodeon).

Outstanding children's series: "Animal Science" (syndicated), "Game Changers With Kevin Frazier" (CBS), "R.L. Stine's The Haunting Hour: The Series" (Hub Network), "Sea Rescue" (syndicated).

Outstanding preschool animated series: "Curious George" (PBS), "Disney Sofia the First" (Disney Channel), "Peg+Cat" (PBS), "The Wonder Pets!" (Nickelodeon).

Outstanding children's animated series: "Beware the Batman -- Secrets" (Cartoon Network), "The Fairly OddParents" (Nickelodeon), "KungFu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness" (Nickelodeon), "Monsters vs. Aliens" (Nickelodeon), "Turbo FAST" (Netflix).

Outstanding lead actress in a drama series: Eileen Davidson ("Days of Our Lives"), Katherine Kelly Lang ("The Bold and the Beautiful"), Heather Tom ("The Bold and the Beautiful"), Arianne Zucker ("Days of Our Lives"). 

Outstanding lead actor in a drama series: Peter Bergman ("The Young and the Restless"), Doug Davidson ("The Young and the Restless"), Christian LeBlanc ("The Young and the Restless"), Jason Thompson ("General Hospital"), Billy Miller ("The Young and the Restless").

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Jasmin Joseph is El Camino Real's softball-playing future scientist

If the producers of television's hit comedy, "The Big Bang Theory," ever need to add a teenage star to their cast of brilliant, eccentric minds, then Jasmin Joseph of Woodland Hills El Camino Real would fit right in.

She's an aspiring scientist and a top softball player for the No. 1 team in the City Section. She ranks No. 2 in her class academically and is headed to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She gets about three hours a sleep each night juggling her many responsibilities and couldn't be happier. She never forgets her long-term ambitions.

"I want to see a world where there's no genetic diseases, no Parkinson's, no Tay-Sachs, no Huntington's, no cystic fibrosis," she said.

Her dreams and aspirations started when she sat in the biology class of Annie Darakjian as a freshman and sophomore. She remembers also being inspired by the movie "Lorenzo's Oil," about parents searching for a cure for their ill son.

"I fell in love and wanted to go into genetics and bioengineering," she said. "I want to work in a lab and do research."

Her softball teammates joke that at MIT, "they have rulers on their bats."

Her coach, Lori Chandler, said, "The rarity is her combination of smarty-pants brains with her dedication to softball. She is off the scale smarty-pants wise but she's equally as dedicated on the field."

Joseph is the starting center fielder and leadoff batter for the Conquistadores (18-1). She's batting .548 with 13 stolen bases.

She didn't start playing softball until she was 13. But she's a quick learner and her speed makes her invaluable on the field.

In the classroom, Darakjian noticed early on that Joseph was different.

"She can do anything," she said. "She has the inquisitive mind and the perseverance and persistence in achieving her goals and going beyond all obstacles. That's her personality. I would not be surprised if one day she becomes a great scientist."

Joseph can certainly speak the language of someone who's going to be soon hanging out with best of the best at MIT, which received 18,989 undergraduate applications for 2013 and accepted 1,548 (8.2%).

"I'm going into bioengineering, which encompasses more than just genetics," she said. "It's all parts of cellular systems, changing them and working with them, learning the structure. I want to eventually focus on genomics, work with DNA and genes to hopefully correct the abnormalities in the human genome and find cures for diseases."

That's pretty serious stuff coming from an 18-year-old, but she's still a teenager enjoying high school, smiling with her teammates and thriving in her softball success.

Her mother is a television producer. Her stepfather works in real estate. She has a 4-year-old brother she baby-sits. She seems to know how to fit into different worlds, from academia to sports to being a senior in high school. That versatility and her warm personality offer her a future with unlimited possibilities.

"She had that pleasant personality where she could impress you without pushing," Darakjian said.

Asked how she would feel if one day she was known as the softball-playing scientist, Joseph said, "Awesome."

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com

Twitter: @LATSondheimer

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