Klein, Walters Take Out Santiago

Lindsay Klein pitched a one-hitter and No. 9 hitter Elizabeth Walters had the game-winning RBI as El Modena beat visiting Santiago, 3-0, Wednesday in a Southern Section Division III wild-card playoff game.

Klein and Santiago starter Jody Robertson pitched scoreless ball through 4 1/2 innings before El Modena (17-10-1) broke through with three runs in the fifth.

Kathleen Galbraith singled with one out, stole second and moved to third on a passed ball. Walters then lined a double down the left-field line, scoring Galbraith. Norrelle Dickson followed with an infield single that scored Walters, and Dickson scored the final run on a groundout by Tara Henry.

The outburst overshadowed a gutsy pitching performance by Robertson, a fastball pitcher who started in place of regular starter Kim Allen.

Santiago Coach Corky Driver felt Robertson matched up better against El Modena’s aggressive hitters than Allen, an off-speed pitcher.

“[Robertson] did a great job,” Driver said, “but they have great hitters over there. You can only pitch to great hitters so long before they break through.”

Klein (14-9) retired 14 consecutive batters to start the game, finished with five strikeouts and didn’t walk a batter.

Amber Tuilaepa’s single with two outs in the fifth was Santiago’s only hit. The Cavaliers (13-13) did have apparent hits in the first and third, but Henry, El Modena’s center fielder, and right fielder Morgan Scott threw out the Santiago runners before they could reach first base.

Dickson and Scott each had two hits for the Vanguards, who advance to play Rosemead in the first round Friday.

The victory was especially sweet for Steve Harrington, El Modena’s first-year coach, who won a Southern Section title with West Hills Chaminade in 1999.

“It’s great to get the victory under our belt,” said Harrington, who started seven sophomores against Santiago and will lose only two seniors off this year’s squad. “We’ve already exceeded expectations this year. Our league prepared us for this game, and we laid some groundwork for the future today.”

Mike Haubrich

In other Division III wild-card games:

Savanna 4, Menifee Paloma Valley 2--Stephanie Quam (10-5) went the distance and junior third baseman Natalie Chavez drove in two runs for the host Rebels (18-8), who play at Whittier La Serna at 3:15 p.m. Friday. Paloma Valley is 10-13.

Valencia 2, El Dorado 1--Michelle Whiteman (17-8) struck out nine, Kim Miller had a sacrifice fly and Marissa Trevino tripled home a run as the host Tigers (19-10) defeated El Dorado (18-11). Valencia plays at Temecula Chaparral on Friday. Rebecca Taul (8-5) took the loss for El Dorado, which shared the Empire League title.

In Division II:

Sunny Hills 5, Santa Fe Springs Santa Fe 2--The Lancers (13-11) scored five runs in the seventh inning, four on a grand slam by sophomore Amy Kim, to advance to a first-round game Friday against Mater Dei. Shannon Deutschman (12-11) struck out eight.

In Division IV:

Bishop Montgomery 5, Costa Mesa 2 (10)--Cassie John had two hits and Ann-Marie Topps scored the tying run in the bottom of the ninth for the Mustangs. Costa Mesa then lost the game by giving up three unearned runs in the 10th inning.

In a Division I first-round game:

Fountain Valley 4, Aliso Niguel 3--Jackie Brown (9-3) struck out nine and drove in a run, Jennie Doezie had three hits and two stolen bases, and Kristin Crowder added two hits and two RBIs for the host Barons (24-7), who face the winner of Friday’s game between Rancho Cucamonga and Arcadia. Erin Wallace had two hits for Aliso Niguel (13-14).