PREP SOFTBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION PLAYOFFS

In the Division III semifinals:

Whittier La Serna 1, Kennedy 0: The Kennedy High softball team tiptoed into the Southern Section Division III semifinals Tuesday, hoping to steal another playoff game behind the right arm of Michelle Turner.

It might have worked had Kennedy’s offense delivered a clutch hit against top-seeded Whittier La Serna. But the Fighting Irish squandered several early scoring opportunities and lost, 1-0, in 11 innings at Arnold Park in Cypress.

La Serna advanced to play El Modena in the final.

“We had countless runners on base early on and couldn’t get them in,” said Kennedy Coach Sue Hall. “They put two hits together and won the game. That about sums it up.”

Turner’s streak of scoreless playoff innings stood at 47 when La Serna second-basemen Stacy Oliver lined a one-out triple over the head of Kennedy left-fielder Pam Young in the top of the 11th. La Serna pitcher Denise Linke then dropped a fly ball between Young and center-fielder Tiffany Tucker, scoring Oliver.

Linke then got the Fighting Irish in order for only the third time in the game. She had a four-hitter with five strikeouts and three walks.

Kennedy (22-7) appeared to have Linke figured out. The Fighting Irish put a runner on second base with less than two out in four of the first five innings.

Their best scoring opportunity came in the third, when Breanne Sabol reached on Oliver’s fielding error, stole second and was safe at third on a fielders’ choice. But with one out, Turner grounded out to Linke and Lorraine Geiger grounded out to short.

Turner (18-3) struck out 11 and didn’t walk a batter. She gave up two hits through the first six inning but gave up six over the final five.

Dan Arritt

In the other Division III semifinal:

El Modena 6, Sonora 0--Lindsay Klein (19-10) pitched her fourth shutout of playoffs and Ashley Van Boxmeer had a run-scoring single and a three-run homer for El Modena.

Right fielder Elizabeth Walters had an RBI bunt single in the first and threw out two baserunners for the Vanguards (21-10-1).

In Division II:

Thousand Oaks 1, Canyon 0 (11)--Taylor Cohen’s single scored Katie Richards from second base in the 11th inning to give the Lancers the semifinal victory.

Thousand Oaks (25-5), Marmonte League champion, advanced to its first section final since 1987. Canyon ends 26-8-1.

Canyon ended their season 26-8-1.

Whittier California 1, Loara 0--California’s Kelly Klewer’s two-out single in the first scored Jennifer Davis. Loara finished 24-10.

In Division IV:

San Dimas 5, Rancho Alamitos 3--The Vaqueros avoided the shutout on catcher Jami Weddle’s three-run seventh-inning homer.

Rancho Alamitos (18-10) committed seven errors in the game, including two in San Dimas’ four-run first.

In Division V:

Orange Lutheran 1, Sun Valley Village Christian 0--The Lancers scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth when the plate umpire called Lauren Nydam for making an illegal pitch.

With one out in the sixth, Alicia Pharris doubled and was replaced by pinch-runner Laura Schmitt. Shelly Meardy singled and Kimmy Miklos received an intentional walk. Nydam then delivered a pitch after stepping off the rubber, allowing Schmitt to score.

Laura Miklos (12-5) gave up three hits and struck out 10 for Orange Lutheran (22-8), which plays Lancaster Paraclete in the final.