Laguna Hills Shuts Out Noise, San Dimas to Advance to Final

There was a great contrast in Tuesday’s contest between San Dimas and Laguna Hills.

San Dimas players were very vocal, cheering and screaming. Laguna Hills took it all in stride, getting a 1-0 victory in the Division III softball semifinals at the University of La Verne.

“I don’t think noise affected us,” Laguna Hills Coach Cary Crouch said. “We’ve played a lot of vocal teams this season.”

Laguna Hills moves on to the finals to play Irvine, which beat North Torrance, 3-0, Tuesday, unless the game is overturned by a protest from San Dimas Coach Don Arlotti.

According to Arlotti, one or more of Laguna Hills’ coaches were throwing batting practice before the game.

That would violate Article 19-1912.2 of the CIF Constitution of Bylaws, which states “teams entered in the softball playoffs will not be permitted to take batting practice on the day of a playoff game prior to the commencement of the contest.”

“I was only throwing bunting practice,” Crouch said. “Some of our kids were playing pepper. We’ve been doing it all year since Day 1.”

The Hawks (23-5), Pacific Coast League champions, scored the game’s only run in the first inning. Alycia Stevens reached base on third baseman Natalie Pray’s fielding error to lead off the inning. Lesley Haynes singled and Stevens reached third on a throwing error by left fielder Tufi Alo. Stevens scored on a sacrifice fly by Misty Thompson.

The Saints (19-8), Valle Vista champions, managed only one hit off Laguna Hills’ Windy Scofield (15-3).