SECTION HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL : Hilltop’s Hill Throws 4th No-Hitter of Season

Hilltop’s Jackie Hill became the fifth pitcher in San Diego Section history to throw four no-hitters in a season, leading her team into the second round of the 3-A softball playoffs Saturday with a 5-1 victory over Mira Mesa.

Hill, a junior, walked three and struck out seven. She had previous no-hitters against Lincoln, Grossmont and Montgomery.

The Lancers committed two errors, one of which allowed Mira Mesa to score an unearned run in the top of the first inning.

Hill dominated offensively as well with four of her team’s six hits.

Other pitchers to throw as many as four no-hitters in a season are Santana’s Cheryl Forehand (1979), Patrick Henry’s Donna Stiles (1984), San Marcos’ Celeste Sanchez (1987) and Castle Park’s Dawn Wood (1988).

In other 3-A playoff games:

Southwest 2, El Capitan 0 (10)--Melle Esquivel gave up nine hits, but Southwest (13-11) took advantage of two hits, two errors and two wild pitches in the final inning to upset second-seeded El Capitan (20-6).

Rancho Buena Vista 3, Morse 2--Venus Moll’s two-out squeeze bunt scored Annjanette Vittulli with the winning run in the fifth. Rachel Boyer (19-5) allowed just five hits. Top-seeded Rancho Buena Vista (22-5) committed six errors, allowing Morse (13-9) two unearned runs.

Orange Glen 2, Mar Vista 1 (11)--Gina Phillips’ inside-the-park home run gave Orange Glen (15-8) the victory. Lara Campbell (15-8) had a career-high 17 strikeouts and walked just one. Mar Vista (15-8) scored an unearned run in the first inning, Orange Glen scored an unearned run in the fifth.

Mt. Carmel 1, Patrick Henry 0--Stacy Thimjon’s two-out single for Mt. Carmel (20-4) drove in winning pitcher Jennifer Ortiz (17-2) in the fourth inning. Ortiz allowed four hits and struck out eight. Patrick Henry finished 12-13.

Chula Vista 1, Vista 0 (9)--Armida Medina’s single in the bottom of the ninth scored Cathy Slatinsky. Medina went two for four for Chula Vista (19-8). Vista finished 14-12.

Serra 3, Bonita Vista 0--Desiree Wallace (11-5) pitched a six-hitter and No. 4 Serra (13-11) took advantage of four Bonita Vista errors to score three unearned runs. Stephanie MacLeod and Sherry Pierce drove in one run apiece. Bonita Vista finished 10-9.

Granite Hills 4, Poway 3--Granite Hills scored four unearned runs, including two in the bottom of the seventh.

Division 2-A

San Marcos 8, University City 1--Sophomore Charlene Reyes homered, singled, tripled and drove in three runs, and allowed just one hit through six innings, striking out nine while improving to 14-4. Missy Anguiano added two hits and two RBIs for the Knights (23-5). University City finished 12-10.

Madison 7, Our Lady of Peace 0--Jenifer Booker pitched a one-hitter and struck out 14 as top-seeded Madison (25-3) beat Our Lady of Peace (9-10). Dawn Sanphy, Suzanne Galleta and Booker had two hits apiece.

Santana 7, San Diego 0--Shelly Hawkins pitched a one-hitter and struck out 11 for No. 2 Santana (26-2). Deann Ford was two for two with three runs, and Cristy Stippey was three for four for the Sultans.

USDHS 3, El Camino 0--Vicki Vechinski pitched a two-hitter as No. 4 USDHS (17-6) defeated El Camino (10-12).

Mission Bay 4, Christian 1--Heidi Leach had a two-run double, and Margaret Johnson was two for three with an RBI for Mission Bay (13-8). Christian finished 14-10.

Escondido 6, Clairemont 0--Escondido improved to 18-6 with the shutout of Clairemont (13-7).

Carlsbad 2, El Cajon Valley 1 (8)--Renee Demirdjian squeezed home the winning run in the top of the eighth for Carlsbad (12-11). Winning pitcher Monica Sharpe struck out eight. El Cajon Valley finished 13-12.

Valhalla 3, San Pasqual 1--Kellie Stone pitched a three-hitter and struck out seven as Valhalla (9-16) upset San Pasqual (21-6). Stacey Terrien had two hits, and Shaney Eardley and Arminda Gonzalez each had a hit and an RBI.

Division 1-A

La Jolla Country Day 14, Imperial 3--Allison Griffith was four for four with four runs and an RBI, and Kate Pyle was three for five with five RBIs as LJCD (12-8) upset No. 3 Imperial (13-6) at Imperial. Annje McFarland (9-7) pitched a two-hitter.

Calvin Christian 11, Francis Parker 6--Second-seeded Calvin Christian (17-4) will meet Imperial in the semifinals Thursday. Francis Parker finished 7-15.

Mountain Empire 9, Borrego Springs 1--No. 4 Mountain Empire (21-5) advanced to Thursday’s semifinals, where it will meet top-seeded Bishop’s (19-3), which had a first-round bye.