CITY SECTION SOFTBALL SEMIFINALS : Top-Seeded Verdugo Hills Forced to Rally, 4-2

After enjoying a pair of earlier playoff routs, the Verdugo Hills High softball team spotted Palisades a two-run lead before rallying for a 4-2 victory Tuesday in a City Section 3-A Division semifinal at South Gate Park.

Top-seeded Verdugo Hills (20-3) advances to the divisional title game against second-seeded South Gate on Tuesday at UCLA’s Easton Stadium. It is the Dons’ fourth consecutive trip to the 3-A final. Their lone title came in 1993 with a victory over South Gate.

Fifth-seeded Palisades (14-9) scored unearned runs in the first and second innings.

In the first, Laurel Swigert scored from second when Verdugo Hills second baseman Jeanise Smith dropped Mindy Spire’s popup.

In the second, Ebony Stinson hit a ball to Verdugo Hills third baseman Rhianna Slimak. Slimak’s wild throw allowed Stinson to run all the way to third. When Verdugo Hills catcher Jodi Kent tried to decoy Stinson by throwing to shortstop Rian Standley, Stinson beat Standley’s return throw home.

Verdugo Hills seized the lead with three runs in the third. A one-out single by Standley drove in Elizabeth Llewellyn and Kent. Standley then scored when Smith hit a ball to Palisades second baseman Spire, who threw it away.

The Dons’ scored their final run in the fourth when Kent was intentionally walked with Gaby Robles on third. Kent turned toward second once she reached first and Robles stole home as the Dolphins tried to trap Kent in a rundown.