Wahlsteen’s Arm, Legs Spark Kennedy Victory

Stacey Wahlsteen, playing in only her third game in center field this season, threw out the potential tying run at the plate for the final out in Kennedy High School’s 1-0 victory over La Habra Friday.

Wahlsteen also scored the only run of the first-round 4-A softball playoff game at Kennedy when she led off the fifth inning with a double and took third on an overthrow by La Habra’s shortstop Cathy Turner. Danielle McLeod followed with a sacrifice fly to center.

Cheryl Longeway (18-3-1) struck out six and had a no-hitter going into the seventh inning.

Sara Mallett opened the inning with a single to right and took second on a wild pitch. Julie Miller grounded to second, advancing Mallett to third.

Shanna Lenahan followed with a line drive to center, which Wahlsteen caught and then fired home to double up Mallett to end the game.

“Jackie Duncan, who usually plays center, is injured,” Kennedy Coach Sue Hall said. “So we put Stacey in. She usually plays left.”

La Habra finished at 15-12.

“We’re a real young team,” Highlander Coach Frank McCarroll said. “With eight freshmen and two sophomores, we’re looking at a great future.

“We did our best--that’s all we can do,” McCarroll said. “To have the last out at home in the last inning, what more can you ask?”

Kennedy (22-3-1) will play Valencia (21-9), a 1-0 winner over Moreno Valley Friday, in the second round Wednesday at a site to be determined.

In other 4-A Division games:

Hacienda Heights Wilson 3, Canyon 2--Wilson (21-5) scored two unearned runs in the sixth inning for a come-from-behind victory at Canyon (21-7). Sara Roberts (14-5) allowed just two hits, walked four and struck out eight, but all three of Wilson’s runs were unearned. Krissy Kyriazis had two hits for Canyon.

Savanna 8, Diamond Bar 3--The Rebels scored three in the first inning, two on a single by Danielle Zaleski, for a victory at Savanna. The Rebels (20-7) scored four more in the third as Diamond Bar committed three errors.

In the 1-A Division:

Santa Margarita 4, St. Matthis 0--Katie Bettie pitched a four-hitter and struck out five for the victory at St. Matthis. Cindy Hatcher hit a solo home run and Niki Raiman had two hits and a run scored for Santa Margarita.

In the Small Schools Division:

St. Margaret’s 2, Linfield 0--Collette McLaughlin, the Academy League’s player of the year, pitched a five-hitter, struck out 10 and walked one to lead visiting St. Margaret’s (10-5). Wendy Pacquard had an RBI single in the first inning, and St. Margaret’s scored its second run on four errors in the sixth.

Providence 10, Liberty Christian 7--Providence scored six times in the fourth inning to take an 8-3 lead. Jenny Engstrom had two doubles and four RBIs for Liberty Christian (17-5).

Orange County softball teams fared poorly in Friday’s coin flips for home sites.

Six of seven county teams will travel next week, including the three county teams left in the Southern Section 5-A playoffs, which begin quarterfinal play Thursday. The 3-A playoffs continue Tuesday with second-round action.

The pairings:

Marina (26-5) at Lompoc (19-4); Mater Dei (21-3) at Simi Valley (20-8); Fountain Valley (21-6) at St. Joseph of Lakewood (14-10).

In the 3-A:

El Toro (22-8) at Trabuco Hills (20-8); Saddleback (20-2) at Ramona (23-2); Tustin (15-9) at Mayfair (17-10).