In Empire League softball:Cypress 3, Loara 1--Sophomore...

In Empire League softball:

Cypress 3, Loara 1--Sophomore Candice Baker hit a three-run home run and created a four-way tie for first place.

Baker, who pitched a two-hitter with 10 strikeouts, provided all the runs she needed with her first-inning home run. She also moved the Centurions (19-6) into a tie with El Dorado (17-10), Loara (21-9) and Kennedy (19-6), which is ranked third in Orange County. All have 7-3 league records.

“I’ve never heard of a four-way tie for first place in 34 years of education,” said Kennedy Principal Mike Sheldon, who joined with six athletic directors after the game to try to interpret the league’s constitution, which he called ambiguous.

After they voted, 5-1, to pull the names of two schools out of a hat, Kennedy will go into next week’s playoffs as the league’s No. 1 representative, Loara No. 2, and Cypress and El Dorado will play today for the third berth at a site to be determined, probably Arnold Park at 3 p.m.