SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS : 3-A : Valencia Wins Pitchers’ Duel, 1-0 : Tigers Advance to Semifinal on Chadwick’s Home Run

Michele Granger, Valencia High School’s all-everything pitcher, threw a two-hitter against Garden Grove in the Southern Section 3-A quarterfinals Friday.

So did Tammie Flores, Garden Grove’s star pitcher.

The two hits Granger gave up were both singles, as was one allowed by Flores.

The other was a sixth-inning home run by Valencia shortstop Amanda Chadwick. Her second game-winning home run gave Valencia a 1-0 victory over fourth-seeded Garden Grove in front of 250 at Valencia, sending the Tigers to a semifinal game Tuesday against Diamond Bar, which defeated Culver City, 4-2, in another quarterfinal.

“I went up there and I wanted to do something,” Chadwick said. “I went up kind of anxious.”

Granger and Flores dueled through five innings without a scoring threat. In the sixth, Valerie Finely, the Valencia catcher, squelched a Garden Grove threat when she caught Heather Smith attempting to steal third, ending the inning. Smith had singled, advancing to second on an infield out.

With two out in the Valencia sixth, Chadwick hit a fly ball to left field. It fell in just behind two Garden Grove outfielders as Chadwick scooted around the bases.

“I knew how the game was going to go,” said Debbie Fassel, Valencia coach. “One of us was going to make an error or somebody was going to hit a home run--both outfields play so shallow.”

Granger (22-6) struck out 12 and walked one for Valencia (22-7). Flores (13-8) struck out eight and walked none.

For Garden Grove, it was disappointing way to end to the season.

“On any other field, that hit would be a double,” said Paula Cervantes, Garden Grove coach. “This one goes downhill. That hit shouldn’t have been a homer.

“I think (Flores) outpitched (Granger) today. I’m very proud of my team. I think we outplayed them. (We) didn’t make a mistake.”

Garden Grove (19-9) advanced a runner to third in the seventh but couldn’t score.

Stephanie Smith led off with a walk, advancing to second on Lynn Titzkowski’s sacrifice bunt. Marian Mendoza, who led the Argonauts in RBIs with 16, struck out, and Elaine Allen grounded to Chadwick, the shortstop, ending the game.

“I had to take a quick breath (when Chadwick fielded the ball),” Fassel said. “Amanda had been having a little trouble with fielding in practice. I watched her take two hands and scoop it up.”

Chadwick’s home run and fielding were an example of how often players other than Granger win games for Valencia, Fassel said.

“(Chadwick) seems to get the hits just when we need them. Michele obviously keeps us in our games with her pitching, but she’s only driven in the winning run a couple of times. The others have been driving in runs to win games all year.”

In other games:

Sunny Hills 6, Buena Park 0--Ruby Flores (16-2) pitched a one-hitter and had 13 strikeouts to lead the Lancers for the third time this season. Sunny Hills (25-5) had defeated Buena Park (14-10) twice in the Freeway League.

Catherine Stedman had two hits and three RBIs for Sunny Hills which plays Charter Oak in one semifinal Tuesday.