Sports Roundup: St. Monica Academy stymies Highland Hall, 25-3

SOFTBALL

St. Monica Academy 25, Highland Hall 3 (five innings): The Crusaders scored 11 runs in the first inning on the road in Thursday’s CIF Southern Section Division VII playoff game and never relented.

“We put the ball in play, they had a couple of errors and we didn’t let up,” said Crusaders Coach Barry Evans, whose team finished second in the Heritage League and improved to 10-5. “This is probably one of our better days.”

Yamila Evans and Therese Foles combined for a one-hitter in the circle.

St. Monica will take on Animo Leadership on the road in a second-round game Tuesday.

Garden Grove 12, Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy 1 (five innings): Flintridge Sacred Heart saw its season ended by Garden Grove in the CIF Southern Section Division V playoffs for the second straight season.

On Thursday, Flintridge Sacred Heart fell in the first round after reaching the quarterfinals last season.

Flintridge Sacred Heart (16-8) got a two hits and a run from Amanda Ramirez.

“We exceeded expectations,” said Flintridge Sacred Heart Coach Kirk Nishiyama, whose team beat Sierra Vista in a wild-card game after taking third in the Sunshine League. “I figured we would go as far as our pitching. We had a solid defense and a pretty good offense.

“I think we beat the teams we were supposed to beat, but needed stronger pitching to beat the better teams.”

GOLF

Altmayer in CIF Tournament: St. Francis senior Tommy Altmayer carded a 11-over-par 83 on Thursday to finish tied for 49th in the CIF Southern Section Individual Finals/Southern California Golf Assn. Qualifier at Mission Lakes Country Club in Desert Hot Springs.

Norman Xiong of Temescal Canyon won the event with a 69, edging Justin Egelske by one stroke.

The top 28 finishers from the field of 60 advanced to the CIF State Qualifying Tournament on May 26 at Brookside Golf Course in Pasadena.