Valencia, Paraclete Make Final

The little team that could and the young team that should will meet on Monday for the High Desert tournament Division I softball championship.

Paraclete High, which competes in Southern Section Division V, mowed down two more larger schools and Valencia, with seven freshmen and sophomores, continued to thump opponents at Lancaster City Park on Saturday.

Paraclete routed three-time defending tournament champion Quartz Hill, 10-0, in a five-inning quarterfinal, then scored twice in the eighth to claim a 2-0 semifinal victory over Alemany.

“I don’t know how we’re doing it,” said Coach Margaret Neill of Paraclete (10-2), which has outscored three tournament opponents, 16-0.

Junior Sara Gonzales (9-1) has pitched four consecutive shutouts and is 5-0 this season against Golden League teams.

Valencia (12-1), ranked No. 4 in the region by The Times, beat Foothill League rival Burroughs, 3-0, in a quarterfinal and routed Highland, 8-0, in a semifinal.

“If our bats continue to hit, we’ll be fine,” said Coach Donna Lee, whose team has outscored tournament opponents, 24-1.

Valencia, which won its 12th consecutive game, scored seven runs in the fifth against Highland (6-4).

Sophomore right-hander Tori Rocco (9-1) struck out four in a six-inning two-hitter against Highland. She pitched a two-hitter against Burroughs.

Burroughs 4, Canyon 3--Lynne Hastings doubled and tripled for the Indians (9-6), who broke a 3-3 tie in the sixth of a consolation game.

Alemany 6, Arcadia 1--Pru Kjontvedt drove in two runs for the Indians in a Division I quarterfinal.

Highland 4, Canyon 1--Natalie Rawson had three hits and Nichole Rawson (5-4) pitched a two-hitter for the Bulldogs in a Division I quarterfinal victory.

Glendale 5, Birmingham 0--Heather Hamasaki (3-1) struck out eight in a two-hitter for the Dynamiters (4-7) in a Division II quarterfinal victory.

Glendale lost, 2-1, to Bishop in the semifinals.

Louisville 2, Granite Hills 0--Andrea DeLuna hit a two-run single in the eighth for the Royals (4-8) in a Division I consolation game.

Heather Watrobski added two hits in a 9-0 loss to Ridgecrest Burroughs (8-3).

Lancaster 7, Sultana 3--Briana Laux and Erin Yasumoto each had three hits for the Eagles (4-5-1) in a Division I consolation victory.

Lancaster lost to Apple Valley, 2-0, earlier.

Ridgecrest Burroughs 1, Palmdale 0--Amanda Wachsmuth of Palmdale pitched a one-hitter but allowed an unearned run in the sixth inning of a Division I consolation game.

The Falcons (4-10-2) also lost to Granite Hills, 5-3.

Antelope Valley 1, Mojave 0--Felicia Shepler hit a run-scoring single in the third inning of a consolation game.