A New League but an Old Result for Aliso Niguel

A new league hasn’t changed anything between Aliso Niguel and Laguna Hills--they’re still playing for league titles in softball.

Tenth-ranked Aliso Niguel scored three runs in the top of the first, two on Kalena Petersen’s triple, and held on for a 3-2 victory to remain in first place in the Sea View League.

Laguna Hills, which won or shared eight of the last nine Pacific Coast League titles, won’t hang a banner this year.

With two games remaining, including one against winless Newport Harbor, Aliso Niguel has positioned itself to win a third league championship.

Aliso Niguel, which defeated Laguna Hills in the last game last season to tie for the PCL title, can win the Sea View crown outright with a victory Wednesday against Woodbridge, a league champion for 16 consecutive years.

Laguna Hills (17-9, 4-3), in third place, has one game remaining, against Irvine (15-8, 3-3).

“I really didn’t think anyone would win with three runs,” Laguna Hills Coach Cary Crouch said. “They made the plays.”

And the plays were huge. Leslie Simien, one of the county’s fastest players, was thrown out at second base twice.

“What a relief that was,” said Aliso Niguel Coach Joe Miller. “Those were crucial because she would have been in scoring position.”

Simien was caught stealing for the fourth time in 31 attempts in the third inning by catcher Jennifer Kreinbrink. Simien had stolen a base in the first inning and scored, and her fifth-inning single forced an error that allowed Erica Corley to score.

Crouch argued the call on the third-inning steal attempt, but there was no doubt in the fifth inning. On the scoring play, Simien ran well past first base, then darted toward second as the ball got past the first baseman. Right fielder Lindsay Schafer threw Simien out.

The Wolverines got three of their four hits in the first inning, from Wallace, Jessica Vernaglia and Petersen.

Losing pitcher Brittany Fait (14-8) faced only one batter over the minimum the last six innings, but lost the duel with Amanda Samonte (11-4).