Gladstone Shows La Canada the Door

La Canada High made a quick exit from the postseason Thursday, losing to Gladstone, 6-2, in the first round of the Southern Section Division IV baseball playoffs at Gladstone.

The Spartans (11-10-1) led, 1-0, after three innings but saw their hopes falter in the fourth, when the Gladiators (19-5) scored five runs.

La Canada starter Tony Ramage (5-5) allowed six hits and five runs--one earned--in 3 2/3 innings.

The Spartans committed four errors.

Phil Reed singled home a run in the second and Bobby Matthews singled in another in the seventh for La Canada, the second-place team from the Rio Hondo League.

Gladstone finished second in the Montview League.

SOFTBALL

Village Christian 2, Fillmore 1--Shandra Mahinay scored twice for the Crusaders, including the winning run with two out in the seventh on a throwing error in the first round of the Division V playoffs at Village Christian.

Mahinay singled with two out, stole second and took third on a passed ball before coming home when pitcher Naomi Qualls threw high to first base on a comebacker.

The Flashes (15-8) had two runners thrown out at home in the third inning after Esther Gurrola singled home Melanie Schrock to tie the score, 1-1.

Mahinay gave Village Christian (20-6) a 1-0 lead in the first inning when she doubled, was sacrificed to third and scored on a single by Emily Taritero.

Santa Maria St. Joseph’s 11, Campbell Hall 2--Molly Jacobs had three hits but the Vikings (12-12) fell to the top-seeded Knights in a Division V first-round game at Santa Maria.

Campbell Hall scored two unearned runs in the fifth.