PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE SOFTBALL : Laguna Hills Makes Good on Promise, Clinches Title

When Laguna Hills and Trabuco Hills last played, the game went 13 innings and seemed to go on forever. So Laguna Hills Coach Cary Crouch promised his players a 75-minute game Tuesday.

Call him a prophet.

The Golden Hawks’ first-inning double-steal and flawless defense provided them with a quick, 1-0 victory that clinched the Pacific Coast League title.

It is the fifth league title in seven years and third in a row for Laguna Hills (18-5, 9-0). Second-place Trabuco Hills is 10-13, 7-2, with one league game remaining.

In the bottom of the first inning, Alycia Stevens and Jennifer Milo had infield singles, putting runners at first and third. Milo’s steal induced a rundown and Stevens scored her 27th run of the year.

A misplay on a first-and-third situation in the 13th inning provided Laguna Hills with the winning run in the first meeting between the teams.