San Diego Section 2-A Softball Playoffs : Crise Leads Crawford Again as Castle Park Loses, 4-0

Gina Crise pitched a five-hit shutout to lead defending San Diego Section 2-A champion Crawford to a 4-0 first-round playoff victory over Castle Park Tuesday.

Crawford wasn’t given much of a chance against Castle Park, which was seeded second after going undefeated in the Metro South Bay League. Crawford finished 19-10 in the tough City Central League.

But Crawford took the lead in the first when Karla Salmi hit a three-run homer, her fifth of the year. Salmi also drove in Casandra Tex with a fielder’s choice in the sixth.

Crise was the winning pitcher when Crawford beat San Marcos, 4-3, to win the title last season.

Crawford will play San Pasqual at 5 p.m. Thursday at Kit Carson Park in Escondido. In other 2-A games:

San Pasqual 4, Mar Vista 3--Junior catcher Danielle Fowler had a base hit up the middle to break a 3-3 tie in the sixth and give the No. 3-seeded Eagles (19-7) the victory. Junior Corrine Diwell allowed five hits for the victory. Mar Vista had runners on first and second with no one outs in the seventh, but couldn’t score. Junior Trish Tavis had two RBIs in the first two innings to put San Pasqual ahead, 2-0, in the second. Junior Kathy Vernnetti was 2 for 2 with a walk. Angie Wyckoff took the loss in relief for Mar Vista (13-10).

Christian 6, Mission Bay 0--Michelle Wesson struck out eight and pitched a shutout to lead the top-seeded Patriots (22-4). Christian scored in the fourth when Christie Huffman tripled and scored when the Mission Bay catcher dropped the ball on a third strike and threw the ball over the first baseman’s head. Amy Dawson had a two-run single in the four-run sixth for Christian. Mission Bay finishes at 15-5.

Briefly, No. 4-seeded University City (16-2) beat Escondido (13-8), 6-3. Christian plays University City at 7 p.m. on Thursday at Kit Carson Park.

3-A

Madison 1, Orange Glen 0--Pitcher Debbie Corbett struck out 10 and allowed only two hits to earn the complete-game shutout victory at Orange Glen. Corbett also knocked in the winning run in the first inning with her double to score Beth Taylor. Madison (24-1) advances to the semifinals Thursday at Kit Carson Park in Escondido against Vista at 7 p.m. Orange Glen finished 15-10 overall.

Vista 2, Patrick Henry 0--Karrie Schott hit a two-run double in the first for the No. 4-seeded Panthers (15-6). Schott pitched a complete-game four-hitter for the victory. Patrick Henry (18-6) stranded runners on second in the second and fourth.

Monte Vista 7, Chula Vista 3--SindyDuncan’s three-run homer highlighted a four-run third inning for Monte Vista (19-3). Arivilla Ramirez was 3 for 4 and Kristy Howard was 2 for 3 to lead Monte Vista.