PREP ROUNDUP : Mission Viejo Defeats Irvine to Advance to Softball Playoffs

Jodi Lemire pitched a one-hitter to lead visiting Mission Viejo to a 2-0 victory over Irvine in a South Coast League softball playoff game Friday.

The Diablos (10-14) scored twice in the fifth inning. Courtney Kerley started the rally with a single. Treva Whitaker sacrificed and reached second on a throwing error. Amy Blohm had a squeeze bunt to drive in the first run, and Colleen Daugherty had a run-scoring groundout for the second run.

The victory gave Mission Viejo a Southern Section playoff berth. The Diablos and Irvine had tied for third and split the head-to-head meetings, necessitating the playoff game.

In Academy League softball:

Liberty Christian 12, Cal Lutheran 8--Melissa Grippo drove in five runs for the host Minutemen (16-4, 8-1 in league), who assured themselves of the league title with the victory.

St. Margaret’s 2, Heritage Christian 1--Colette McLaughlin pitched a no-hitter, striking out 16, and Hollie Burroughs drove in the winning run with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh for the Tartans (13-3, 6-2).

In Arrowhead League softball:

Calvary Chapel 13, Leffingwell Christian 1 (4 1/2, mercy rule)--Jenny Hoffman drove in five runs for the Eagles (15-7, 10-0) at Davis Park in Costa Mesa.

In Sea View League softball:

University 11, Saddleback 0--Michele Ponce (13-5) pitched a no-hitter and went three for three with two doubles and drove in a run for the visiting Trojans (17-10, 7-3). Heather Toomey and teammate Lisa McCracken also were three for three and each drove in a run.

In a Sunset League softball playoff game:

Huntington Beach 2, Ocean View 1--Stefanie Noffsinger drove in Danielle Bowman in the fifth inning for the visiting Oilers. Laura Minard’s singled in Tina Duncan earlier in the inning.

In Southern Section Division 3-A wild-card boys’ tennis matches:

Fullerton 9, Glendale 9 (Fullerton wins on games, 75-74)--The host Indians (14-6) rallied from a 9-4 deficit, moving into a first-round match Tuesday at Foothill League champion Burbank.

Garden Grove 12, La Canada 6--Host Garden Grove (16-4) won eight of nine doubles sets, advancing to a first-round match Tuesday at Laguna Beach.

Laguna Hills 12, Los Amigos 6--Chris Marshall and Tom Yin each swept for the host Hawks (12-9), who will visit San Gabriel League champion Cerritos Gahr in a first-round match Tuesday.