Southern Section Softball : Valencia’s Granger Stops Sunny Hills on 1-Hitter

Just when it looked as if Sunny Hills High School might start a rally against Valencia ace Michele Granger on Friday, Granger’s sister, Angela, intervened.

The right fielder caught Gina LoPiccolo’s sharp line drive leading off the seventh inning to help preserve the Tigers’ 1-0 victory in a quarterfinal game of the Southern Section 3-A softball playoffs at Sunny Hills.

It was the Lancers’ best-hit ball of the afternoon. Michele Granger retired the next two batters to finish with a one-hitter and 11 strikeouts.

She said she was worried about LoPiccolo’s liner, even though it was hit at her sister.

“Every time they hit the ball, I hold my breath,” Michele said.

Erin McKenney got Sunny Hills’ only hit, a two-out single to shallow right in the fifth. However, first base was as far as McKenney got as Loretta Trujillo struck out to end the inning.

Valencia didn’t have much success against Sunny Hills pitcher Ruby Flores, either. The Tigers scored their only run in the fourth with the help of an error. Angela Granger reached base when Lancer catcher Susanne Steinke fell trying to pick up Granger’s dribbler in front of the plate. The Tigers’ Valarie Finley followed with a bunt back to Flores, who forced Granger at second. After Julie Cunningham sacrificed Finley to second, Linda Sanchez tripled into the gap in right-center to drive her in.

The victory improved Valencia’s record to 16-8. The Tigers will play Woodbridge, a 3-0 winner over Arcadia, in a semifinal game Tuesday. Sunny Hills finished 16-4.

In other 3-A action:

Sonora 5, Estancia 1--The Eagles outhit the Raiders at Tewinkle Park, 9-5, but the big blow of the game was a two-run homer by Sonora’s Tracee Allen. Leading 1-0, Sonora scored three runs in the fourth inning on four errors, a walk and Allen’s home run. Estancia scored its only run in the fifth on four singles.

Winning pitcher Lisa Johnson had 11 strikeouts.

Also in 3-A: Crescenta Valley 1, Garden Grove 0 (13 innings).

In 2-A action:

El Toro 6, Diamond Bar 5--Patty Forrest hit a bases-loaded triple in the top of the sixth inning to knock in what proved to be the winning runs for the Chargers at Diamond Bar. Shawn Gallagher, Karen Robertson, and Laura Turnbow each had two hits for the Chargers. Dawn Robertson (13-2) picked up the win. El Toro (22-5) meets Corona Tuesday at a site to be determined by a coin flip this morning.

Also in 2-A: Mission Viejo 3, Arroyo 0.