Softball playoff games from May 21

Published online on Friday, May. 22, 2009

Highlights and box scores from Central Section baseball and softball playoff games as reported to The Fresno Bee:

SOFTBALL

Regina Silva had a three-run walk-off home run in No. 4 El Diamante's 7-5 victory over No. 5 Frontier in a D-II game.

Angela Mendoza scored on a fielding error in the third inning, and Morgan Reiter pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts as No. 3 Central defeated No. 6 Liberty-Bakersfield in D-I.

Kim Smith worked out of trouble in the first two innings, and Kacy Fugate singled in the go-ahead run in a four-run second to lead second-seeded Golden West past No. 10 Sanger 4-1 in D-II. It was Golden West's eighth straight victory.

Haleigh Huffman hit a two-run homer in the first, leading No. 9 Clovis North to a 5-0 victory over D-III top seed Golden Valley.

Brianna Young struck out 13 and didn't allow an earned run in a complete-game victory as No. 4 Hanford West defeated No. 5 Dinuba 7-2 in Division III.

Second-seeded Washington, without injured section strikeout leader Kassi Workentine, lost 16-10 to No. 7 McLane in D-IV. Workentine suffered a hyperextended left knee at practice Tuesday. Marisa Lourenco, who hadn't pitched since early March, stepped up with a 122-pitch effort. She was hurt by 13 Washington errors. Vinnessa Johnson was 4 for 5 with five RBIs for McLane.

Danica Preciado's walk-off double lifted No. 3 Firebaugh to a 2-1 victory over No. 7 Corcoran in D-V.

Devin Kochergern went 5 for 5, including a two-run double in the sixth, guiding No. 10 Liberty-Madera Ranchos past second-seeded and defending D-V champion Fowler 8-5. Kayla Barber pitched a four-hitter with five strikeouts to pick up the win.

No. 3 Kingsburg amassed four hits, seven walks and took advantage of two errors during a 10-run second inning to beat No. 6 Exeter 11-3 in the Division IV playoffs. Kristen Torres drove in the inning's first two runs. Teammate Michelle Brassfield finished 2 for 3, with two runs, two RBIs and a steal.

No. 4 Buchanan scored all of its runs in the fifth inning, two on a single by Amani Proctor, to beat No. 5 Centennial 4-3 in D-I.

Courtney Hitchcock had a two-run single in the fourth inning, propelling No. 8 Chowchilla to an upset win over top-seed Wasco in D-IV. Redskins pitcher Stephanie Pierini tossed a five-hitter and had seven strikeouts.

Division VI championship: Top-seeded Laton captured the title, defeating No. 2 McFarland 10-9 after falling behind 3-0. A seven-run fourth was the difference. Jenna Richmond and Dawn Alves had final-inning defensive gems -- the latter to end the game on a blast to left-center with a runner at second -- to preserve the win after the Cougars had rallied for four runs. Alves was 3 for 4 with three runs and three steals. Bianca Avila was 2 for 3 with an RBI and Landi Mello 2 for 4 as the Mustangs finished 16-7 overall.

SOFTBALL BOX SCORES

CENTRAL SECTION PLAYOFFS

DIVISION I

No. 9 Clovis 6, No. 1 Bullard 3

Clovis (22-13) 000 001 5 -- 6 10 1

Bullard (23-7) 030 000 0 -- 3 8 2

WP: Kacy Moritz. LP: Adriana Bencomo. C, Shannon Ramsden 2-2, BB, R; Chelse Roberts 1-3, BB, RBI; Alissa Gutierrez 3-4, 3B, 2RBI; Tiffani Balladares 2-4, RBI; Alina Jauregui 1-2, BB, R. B, Alejandra Diaz 2RBI; Nicole Diaz 1-3, 2RBl, RBI; Lauren Zenimura 2B; Katie Geis 2-3, R; Angela Fausone 2B

No. 4 Buchanan 4, No. 5 Centennial 3

Centennial (23-6-1) 000 111 0 -- 3 5 1

Buchanan (24-7-1) 000 040 x -- 4 4 4

WP:Darcy Ulrich. LP:Ensley Gammel. S: Natalie Rendon. C,McKenzie Joseph 3-4; Leah Munden 2RBI. B,Diane Runge 2-3; Amani Proctor 1-2, 2RBI.