SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Los Alamitos Does Job, Beats Fountain Valley

There was no fanfare, no playoff buzz and no seventh-inning choke.

Sixth-ranked Los Alamitos, playing to redeem itself after squandering a four-run lead against Esperanza last week, likely assured itself of second place in the Sunset League--and a more favorable draw in the playoffs--by scoring a 4-1 victory Tuesday over seventh-ranked Fountain Valley.

Though Los Alamitos (18-5, 6-3) has the same record as Fountain Valley (15-12, 6-3), the victory gave the Griffins a sweep of the season series and the tiebreaker advantage if they are tied after Thursday’s finales; Los Alamitos plays at Huntington Beach (11-15, 3-6), and Fountain Valley plays host to Esperanza (9-13, 4-5).

“After the loss to Esperanza,” Griffin Coach Jami Shannon said, “I think the girls wanted to go out and show what kind of team they really are.”

The Griffins were stung for three hits, three errors and five runs in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 6-5 loss to Esperanza. After two one-out singles, a similar scenario was developing against Fountain Valley, but leading, 4-1, Los Alamitos pitcher Mandy Rockwell (8-0) induced Jackie Killian to pop to shortstop, and Amanda Peterson ran back to catch Lindsey Collins’ deep fly to center to end the game.

Rockwell gave up seven hits, the biggest an RBI triple by Laurie Gillis.

Both teams scored in the first, but Los Alamitos’ three-run third inning decided the outcome. Peterson was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Cyndi Tredway’s single, giving her 24 RBIs. Tredway scored on the first of Michelle Schneider’s two doubles, and Schneider scored on Jennifer Slaney’s single to center.