Highlights from May 21

Published online on Friday, May. 22, 2009

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 singed 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.

BASEBALL

Austin Fugate went 2 for 2 and scored twice as No. 3 Corcoran eliminated No. 6 Firebaugh 5-2 in the Division V playoffs. Corcoran's Mason Gonzales got the win and Ryan Luna locked a save with a scoreless seventh.