La Serna Edges Upland in Division III

Nikki Garrett’s 12th-inning, RBI single up the middle gave Whittier La Serna a 1-0 victory Saturday in the Division III title game at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

Either Upland shortstop Christy Sears or second baseball Kim Schultze could have easily made the play on Garrett’s grounder, but each thought the other would take it. So both let the ball get through for an RBI single.

Whose ball was it?

“It was mine all the way,” Sears said.

“I think I should have had it,” Schultze said.

So why didn’t either player go for the ball?

“It was miscommunication,” said Sears, who ended the game with a fly out. “She thought I was going to get it and I thought she was going to get it.”

One run was plenty for La Serna pitcher Jackie DeBoard. The senior, who improved her record to 26-1-1 and lowered her ERA to 0.06, gave up three hits and struck out 14.

Upland pitcher Sarah Farnworth (25-5) gave up five hits and struck out 10 in the loss.

La Serna finished 21-1-1, Upland 26-5. The game was a rematch of last year’s title game, which Upland won, 4-2.

Santa Ana Mater Dei 3, Camarillo 1--Monica Lucatero doubled in Robin Walker and Marissa Young in the bottom of the sixth inning, leading the Monarchs (30-1) to the Division I title at Mayfair Park. Camarillo finished 22-3.

Santa Monica Crossroads 2, Moorpark 1--Robin Strauss singled home Deborah Splansky with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning, giving the Roadrunners (22-9) the Division V title.

Crossroads pitcher Erika Koivula (21-9) struck out eight and outlasted sophomore pitcher Erin Heinbechner of Moorpark (19-9).

Covina Western Christian 7, Temecula Linfield 5 (8 innings)--Autumn Davis singled home the go-ahead run in the top of the eighth as the Lancers (23-8) captured the Division VI crown. Linfield (24-6) was seeking its third straight title.