Camarillo Drops Los Alamitos

Camarillo High parlayed two infield hits and an error for a fifth-inning run in a 1-0 victory over Los Alamitos on Thursday in a Southern Section Division I softball quarterfinal playoff game at Los Alamitos.

Kathryn Nevard (17-6) pitched a five-hitter for the Scorpions (23-8), who face top-seeded Mater Dei on Tuesday.

The Monarchs (30-1) defeated Diamond Bar, 1-0, in another quarterfinal Thursday.

Rheann Fortney ended sophomore Kim Dillon’s no-hit bid with one out in the fifth inning, beating out a chopper hit back to Dillon (10-8). Lindsey Calderon followed with a bunt which freshman catcher Cat Cusick threw late to first base.

After Jaclyn Victoria forced Fortney at third for the second out, Alana Mendoza hit a chopper to third baseman Mackenize DeLeon, whose throw was dropped by first baseman Darcey Brown, allowing Calderon to score from second.

The fourth-seeded Griffins (19-9) threatened in the sixth. Kristin Farber led off with an infield hit, stole second and took third when DeLeon beat out a bunt.

Phelan Wright grounded out to shortstop Nicki Holt, with Farber holding at third and DeLeon advancing to second.

“I was worried more about the ball getting through and the girl from second scoring than anything,” Coach Miki Mangan of Camarillo said. “I wasn’t worried the girl on third scoring.”

Those fears ended when Nevard induced Brown to hit a soft line drive to Holt and got designated hitter Emily Foltz to pop out.

Nevard retired Los Alamitos in order in the seventh.

“I pitched well enough to win, but it wasn’t my best game at all,” said Nevard, who opened the playoffs by pitching a perfect game and striking out 18 in a 6-0 victory over Alhambra May 19. She pitched a one-hitter in Tuesday’s 1-0 second-round victory over Highland.

“Some days, you’re off sometimes. I didn’t just feel like I had everything [Thursday]. I was pitching hard, but I didn’t have the feeling in me that I could throw it past them all the time.”

The Griffins had five hits to Camarillo’s three.