PREP SOFTBALL : Katella Is Too Much for Griffins

Los Alamitos missed opportunities against Katella in an Empire League softball game Thursday at Los Alamitos.

The fifth-ranked Griffins (14-3, 2-2) entered the game in a four-way tie for the league lead with Katella, Cypress and Loara, and despite putting runners in scoring position in six innings, the Griffins couldn’t capitalize and lost, 3-1.

Katella (9-10, 3-1) scored in the third, when Stacy Nelson came home on a passed ball by Carrie Dolan. In the play at the plate, the ball hit Nelson’s foot, bounced away, and Melissa Benbow scored from second to give Katella a 2-0 lead.

Los Alamitos’ Carolyn Wilson tripled to lead off the second, but the next three batters were retired.

Katella Coach Rhonda Weyer credited pitcher Kelsi Armbruster (8-8) and Benbow’s savvy baserunning.

“When Wilson had that leadoff triple, Kelsi did an excellent job of pitching out of it,” Weyer said. “Defensively, we shut them out. Offensively, we had a lot of contact.

“The great hustle decision was by Benbow--scoring from second on a passed ball.”