PREP ROUNDUP : Howard’s Softball No-Hitter Sparks Cypress Past Loara

Beth Howard pitched a nine-inning no-hitter to lead Cypress to a 1-0 victory over host Loara in an Empire League softball game Tuesday.

Howard (18-3) retired the first 26 batters, striking out 10, before giving up a walk with two outs in the ninth. After Cypress (21-6, 7-2) loaded the bases in the ninth, Liz Moore was hit by a pitch to force in the winning run.

In Academy League softball:

Liberty Christian 10, Cal Lutheran 0 (five innings)--Lisa Gray pitched her third no-hitter of the season for host Liberty Christian (16-4, 7-0). She struck out six and walked six. Jenny Engstrom had three hits and scored twice.

In Century League softball:

Villa Park 7, El Modena 2--Michele D’amato had two hits, an RBI and scored twice for host Villa Park. Jamie Franco had two hits and two RBIs. Munique Hernandez got her 10th victory, striking out 11, and had two hits for Villa Park (12-10-1, 7-2).

Foothill 3, Santa Ana Valley 0--Foothill’s Leeann Gonzalez (10-7) pitched a two-hitter, striking out seven and walking none, and faced the minimum 21 batters as one runner was caught stealing and the other was out in a double play. Gonzalez has not given up an earned run in league play. Melissa Wielandt had two hits and scored for Foothill (16-11, 6-3).

In Freeway League softball:

Buena Park 8, Fullerton 2--Carrie Escobedo hit a two-out, two-run home run to lead Buena Park (16-2-1, 8-1), which clinched the league championship.

Sunny Hills 2, Sonora 1 (11 innings)--Berni Fancuberta scored the winning run on Susan Hernandez’s grounder when the thrown home was overthrown. Kelly Ward tripled to lead off the first inning and Susan Porter singled her home to give Sunny Hills (11-10, 6-3) a 1-0 lead.

In Olympic League softball:

Whittier Christian 10, Capistrano Valley Christian 9--Cristen Crigler had a two-run triple with one out in the bottom of the seventh to give host Whittier Christian (13-7, 8-5) the victory.

Santa Margarita 13, Ontario Christian 1--Visiting Santa Margarita (14-2, 11-2) scored 13 runs in the sixth inning and freshman pitcher Melissa Levens struck out four and allowed one unearned run on seven hits.

Orange Lutheran 13, Whitney 5--Jennifer Ingrande hit a bases-loaded triple to lead Orange Lutheran’s seven-run sixth inning. Pam Marty had two hits and two RBIs for the Lancers (11-7, 7-6).

In Orange League softball:

Brea-Olinda 2, Magnolia 0--Allison Bickel had two hits, including an RBI double in the fourth, and Angie Hanes had an RBI single in the second for host Brea-Olinda (11-10, 4-5).

In Sea View League softball:

Saddleback 9, Corona del Mar 3--Priscilla Sarmiento had four hits, including two two-run home runs, five RBIs and scored four times to lead host Saddleback (18-2, 8-1).

University 6, Estancia 0--Lakita Johnson had two hits, including a triple, and three RBIs to lead host University (14-10, 6-3), which clinched third place. Shareen Patton (10-4) pitched a five-hitter, striking out four and walking two.

Tustin 7, Newport Harbor 0--Shannon Ellis had two hits and pitched a three-hitter, striking out seven, to lead Tustin.

In South Coast League softball:

El Toro 1, San Clemente 0--Paige Lauby pitched a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts and a hit batter and also scored the winning run to lead El Toro (20-8, 8-1), which clinched a tie for first in the league. In the second inning, Lauby singled, was sacrificed to second and scored on Jennifer Melville’s single.

Dana Hills 2, Capistrano Valley 1--Janae Deffenbaugh pitched a five-hitter and struck out three to lead visiting Dana Hills (9-14, 2-7). Staci Cox tripled and scored on Deffenbaugh’s single in the third inning for the winning run.

Irvine 1, Mission Viejo 0--Brandi Armstrong singled in the first inning, took second and third on an error and scored on a wild pitch to lead host Irvine (23-3, 7-2). Jennifer Brundage (21-2) pitched a two-hitter and struck out 12 with no walks for Irvine.

In the Pacific Coast League boys’ tennis finals:

Junior Jon Leach of Laguna Beach defeated Lee Kirner of Laguna Beach, 6-2, 6-0, for his third consecutive league singles title. In doubles, Brett Isaacman and Reza Nilforoushan of Woodbridge defeated Rajeen Saggar and Brett Shevel of Woodbridge, 6-4, 6-0.