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DIVISION I SOFTBALL : Banged-Up Los Alamitos Beats Garden Grove, 3-2

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

What was supposed to be the bench looked more like a hospital ward.

Going into the opening round of the Southern Section Division I softball playoffs Friday, Los Alamitos was dealing with a variety of injuries, none of which broke the Griffins’ concentration more than the concussion starter Carrie Dolan sustained that morning in a car accident.

Dolan, who was released from the hospital after two hours and received clearance from doctors to pitch as early as Tuesday, had a headache as she watched Los Alamitos and Garden Grove play into extra innings. Her teammates finally pulled out the 3-2 victory in the eighth.

With one out, Amanda Peterson reached on a throwing error by Garden Grove reliever Wendi Griffin, stole second base and scored on Megan Barnes’ drive up the middle.

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“It was hard to focus after the accident, it took us about three innings,” Los Alamitos Coach Jamie Shannon said.

Garden Grove scored one run in the second inning, which Los Alamitos matched in the third, when catcher Carolyn Wilson’s RBI double to left scored Becky Rosetti in a close play at the plate.

The sixth-ranked and unseeded Griffins (21-3) took a one-run lead, 2-1, in the fifth, but Garden Grove (19-10) sent the game into extra innings when Autumn Gwinner scored on Briana Corona’s hard-hit single up the middle.

Los Alamitos starter Debbie Wilson pitched three innings before Sheri Bergeron (6-2) relieved her. Bergeron gave up one run on three hits in five innings. Griffin (5-2) took the loss.

Los Alamitos plays Santa Maria Righetti Tuesday.

In other Division I game:

El Toro 5, Kennedy 1 (9 innings)--Misty Lauby had a two-run double in the top of the ninth as El Toro (17-12), an at-large team, upset Kennedy, Orange County’s top-ranked team. The Chargers play Katella in the second round.

Katella 5, Cerritos 1--Stacey Yourstone’s first-inning, two-run double gave Katella (12-14) the lead for good as the Knights upset Cerritos (19-9).

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Marina 4, Rancho Alamitos 0--Marcy Crouch pitched her second no-hitter, striking out 11 for second-seeded Marina (21-3). The Vikings advance to play Foothill.

Foothill 2, San Clemente 1 (10 innings)--Christina Mazurie singled off the left-field fence, scoring Michelle Churnock from third with the winning run in the bottom of the 10th for Foothill (19-9). San Clemente finished 10-11.

Mater Dei 2, Loara 0--Jennifer Clark (15-2) pitched a no-hitter, striking out nine, and Marie O’Beck hit a two-run homer in the sixth to lead Mater Dei (18-3) at Alton Park in Irvine. The Monarchs advance to play Pacifica.

Pacifica 1, Villa Park 0--Pacifica scored in the third when Rachelle Breig reached second on a two-base error, stole third and scored on a squeeze bunt by Valarie Downen. Kristin Varagne gave up three hits and struck out seven for Pacifica. Villa Park finished 20-8.

Cypress 6, Paramount 0--Five players drove in a run, and Kim Lumsdaine (5-6) pitched a five-hitter for host Cypress (12-13), which plays El Modena in the second round.

El Modena 2, Fountain Valley 1 (14 innings)--After going six innings without a run, the 14-inning game ended after Kristi Bolle, who reached second on a hit by Amy Moreno, scored the winning run for El Modena (17-5). Alexis Beckman had eight strikeouts for the Vanguards, who advance to play Cypress.

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Ocean View 1, Mission Viejo 0--Stacy Avalos’ sacrifice fly in the fourth inning scored Jennifer Hatcher after she tripled to give Ocean View (20-6) the victory. Ocean View plays Newbury Park in the second round.

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