DESERT DIAMOND TOURNAMENT

Oak Park 2, La Reina 1--With three losses to Tri-Valley League rival La Reina this season, the prospects did not look good for Oak Park in the championship game at Lancaster City Park.

The Eagles were down to nine players and were throwing seldom-used pitcher Kristina Thoegersen.

No wonder Coach Roger Newell of Oak Park (15-6) had difficulty explaining the victory.

“I couldn’t tell you exactly what it was,” Newell said. “These girls just wouldn’t quit. They just found ways to win.”

Thoegersen, a sophomore making her third appearance this season, gave up six hits.

Pretty impressive when you consider Thoegersen (1-2) learned she would be pitching about 15 minutes before the game.

“I’m just glad I threw strikes,” she said. “That’s all I was trying to do.”

La Reina (14-9) scored against Thoegersen when Susie Fox tripled, driving in Jessica Prina with one out in the top of the seventh.

The Eagles rallied for the winning run behind the bottom three batters in the lineup.

Melissa Jacobs reached on a one-out single, moved to second on a bunt by Ashley Scott and scored when Jessica Krohn (2-1) made an errant throw to first on a bunt by Jamie Rauchwarger.

Oak Park 4, Alemany 1--Kara Klemecki had two hits and drove in two runs for the Eagles (14-6) in a semifinal game.

Melissa Johnson (12-4) surrendered six hits for Oak Park.

Kaitlin Reiss hit a first-inning home run for Alemany (15-8).

La Reina 3, La Salle 2--Second baseman Kim McAfee threw out Emily Paniaqua of La Salle (18-7) at home with two out in the bottom of the seventh to preserve the victory in a semifinal game.