Softball : Los Alamitos Nears Title on Skoglund’s 3-Hitter

Shannon Skoglund pitched a three-hitter as host Los Alamitos High School defeated El Dorado, 2-1, Tuesday to move one victory from of a second consecutive Empire League softball championship.

Los Alamitos, which lost five starters from last year’s team, will win the title if it can defeat Cypress on Thursday. The Griffins are 12-9, 6-3 in the league. El Dorado is 9-10, 5-4.

“All I care about now is beating Cypress,” Los Alamitos Coach Jami Moore said. “If we can win, the rest will take care of itself.”

Los Alamitos took a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Julie Harris singled off Esperanza starter Keri Lucas, and Lisa Caudillo sacrificed Harris to second. Lucas walked the next three hitters to force in a run.

In the fourth, Los Alamitos scored its other run when a grounder went through the legs of El Dorado shortstop Jenny Dinicola, allowing Cara Dane to score from third. Dane had reached base on an error, moved to second on a sacrifice and to third on a wild pitch.

Skoglund (9-4) struck out 5 and walked 1. Lucas (8-10) gave up 5 hits, struck out 2 and walked 3.

“Shannon is my most experienced pitcher,” Moore said. “She looked a little nervous at the beginning, but that was due to the fact that she hasn’t pitched in many crucial games. She is slowly gaining confidence and did the job today.”

The Golden Hawks rallied in the top of the seventh. Lucas led off with a double and moved to third on a groundout. She scored when Kristie Loyd’s grounder was fielded cleanly by Griffin shortstop Christy Bowles, but first basemen Cindy Ford mishandled the throw. Loyd advanced to second but couldn’t score.

Skoglund then retired Tammy Hanson for the second out and Azsha Drennan on a groundout to end the game.

In the Century League:

Villa Park 3, Canyon 2--Munique Hernandez had a two-out, two-run double in the top of the seventh to give visiting Villa Park (13-13, 7-2) a half-game lead over Canyon with one game left. Hernandez (9-6) also pitched a complete game for the victory.

In the Garden Grove League:

Garden Grove 8, Santiago 0--Stephanie Smith (9-11) threw a no-hitter, striking out 17 and walking 1 for Garden Grove (13-14, 8-5) at Santiago. Michele Covin had 2 hits and an RBI, and Heather Smith had 2 hits and scored 2 runs.

Kennedy 10, Rancho Alamitos 1--Missy Gyde had 3 hits, including a three-run homer in the first, to lead Kennedy (20-4, 13-0) at Rancho Alamitos. Deanna Mays had 3 hits and 2 RBIs. Cheryl Longeway (19-2) threw a one-hitter, striking out 18, for the victory.

In the Orange League:

Brea-Olinda 3, Anaheim 0--Kelly Cook (15-5) threw a no-hitter, striking out 16 and walking 1, to lead Brea-Olinda (16-5, 6-3) at Anaheim. Tricia Barr had 2 doubles and Tara Marlow had 2 hits and an RBI for the Wildcats.

Valencia 2, Savanna 1--Michele Granger (18-3) threw a one-hitter, striking out 15, to lead Valencia (19-6, 6-3) at Savanna. Julie Cunningham and Amanda Chadwick both had run-scoring singles. Rose Ferrante had the single for Savanna (11-11, 5-4).

In the Sea View League:

University 5, Estancia 4--Michele Bell had a two-run single in the top of the seventh to give University (14-6, 12-2) the victory. Shareen Patton (14-5) went the distance, striking out 10. Shannon Suzuki had a two-run single for Estancia (6-8 in league).

In the South Coast League:

San Clemente 1, Capistrano Valley 0 (10 innings)--Capistrano Valley pitcher Jennifer Smith was trying to intentionally walk Wendy Shean, but Shean reached out and singled on the second pitch for the game-winning hit. Tara Roush (9-3) won for San Clemente (18-6, 8-1).

Irvine 4, Mission Viejo 3--Sam White’s one-out single drove in the winning run for Irvine (11-13, 3-6) at Mission Viejo. Irvine trailed, 3-1, going into the top of the sixth, but Brooke Carpenter hit a two-run homer to tie the score. Jennifer Brundage (9-12) threw a four-hitter for the victory. Hilary Schaefer had 2 hits for Mission Viejo (6-3 in league).

Dana Hills 4, El Toro 0--Stacy Cox had 3 RBIs, 2 on a sixth-inning homer, to lead Dana Hills (2-7 in league) Jacki Volkert threw a two-hitter for the victory.

In the Sunset League:

Fountain Valley 8, Westminster 0--Rae Rice (15-5) threw a two-hitter as visiting Fountain Valley clinched a tie for the league championship. Sami Sawyer had 2 hits, including a home run, Shanon Dolan had 2 hits, Rice had 2 hits and 2 RBIs and Paula Estes had 2 hits for Fountain Valley.

In a nonleague game:

Rosary 5, Whittier Christian 3--Patti Niebals hit a pair of two-run home runs, in the second and fourth innings, for Rosary (17-6) at La Mirada Regional Park. Suzi Canney (8-3) got the victory.