Miller Beats San Clemente in 22 Innings

The longest softball playoff game this season included a disputed play that helped Fontana Miller outlast San Clemente, 3-2, in 22 innings Tuesday in the Southern Section Division I second round.

Miller baserunner Amy LaRocque, who had doubled, and Triton shortstop Ricci Lugo collided while Lugo tried to field a infield single to the left of second base in the 22nd inning.

“She made no attempt to avoid contact--that’s interference,” Triton Coach Bill Everhart said. “The umpire said our shortstop put her hands on the runner. My contention is she had her hands out because she’s going for the ball and the girl runs into her.”

Instead, there was no call and LaRocque took third base. She scored on Nikki Marrufo’s single.

Ashley Haight (8-7), who entered in the fourth inning, got the loss. Marrufo (10-4) pitched all 22 innings for Miller (18-10) and struck out 15.

Haight and Nikki Shanafelt combined for 18 strikeouts.

Both teams got 14 hits. San Clemente finished 18-11-1.

Mater Dei 1, La Crescenta Crescenta Valley 0 (12 innings)--Christina Clark doubled with two outs and scored on a throwing error. Clark scored on an overthrow to first base on Courtney Betley’s two-out grounder to shortstop.

Marissa Young (13-2) pitched a two-hitter and struck out 17. The Monarchs (26-4) will visit Camarillo, a 2-0 winner over fourth-seeded Diamond Bar, in the quarterfinals on Thursday.

In other Division I games:

Foothill 1, Fontana 0--Freshman Jamie Dotson’s bases-loaded single in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in Eryn Manahan.

Elizabeth Bendig (11-0) struck out 10 and gave up three hits for second-seeded Foothill (29-3), which plays Moreno Valley Valley View.

Fountain Valley 5, Lakewood 0--Natalie King (11-4) threw a three-hitter and struck out 11 for host Fountain Valley (23-7). Jennifer Doezie and Nicole Rambis each had two RBIs for the Barons, who play Moreno Valley Canyon Springs.