No. 8 Kennedy Shuts Out El Dorado, Clinches Empire League Title

Alicia Dowland had two hits, two walks and scored three runs as Kennedy clinched the Empire League softball title Thursday with an 8-0 victory over host El Dorado.

Kennedy, which didn’t give up an earned run during league play, is ranked eighth in Orange County.

Nicole Crouse (8-3) gave up four hits for Kennedy (20-5, 10-0).

El Dorado (17-8, 8-2) finished second.

In the Freeway League:

Sunny Hills 3, Buena Park 0--Jennifer Hodgden pitched a three-hitter with four strikeouts and one walk for Sunny Hills. Erin Jones had one hit and two RBIs for the Lancers.

La Habra 8, Fullerton 0--Christina Gibbons had bases-loaded triple in the first inning and Holly Murray was two for three with an RBI for No. 9 La Habra (21-6, 10-0). Shelley Salas was three for three with a run and an RBI for the Highlanders, who finished undefeated in league for the second consecutive year.

Troy 1, Sonora 0--Kristin Hodges singled in the winning run in the fourth for Troy (15-14, 6-4), which earned a playoff berth with the victory.

In the Garden Grove League:

Bolsa Grande 3, La Quinta 1--Mary Petrie (16-7) pitched a three-hitter, striking out 11, increasing her county lead to 197 on the season, and walking two for Bolsa Grande (17-9, 9-3). Katie Brunner had an RBI single in the fourth inning for the Matadors.

In the Olympic League:

Calvary Chapel 4, Orange Lutheran 0--Kara Shones and Anna Jones each had two hits for 10th-ranked Calvary Chapel (22-5, 9-1) the league champion, Przygocki had seven strikeouts in posting her third shutout this season.

Whittier Christian 5, Brethren Christian 2--Melissa Blank was three for four with two RBIs for Whittier Christian (12-12, 6-4).

In the Orange League:

Valencia 14, Anaheim 0 (5, mercy)--Allison Jacobs pitched a four-hit shutout in a victory for Valencia (13-14, 6-4). Annie Dedic had a three-run triple for the Tigers.

Magnolia 5, Savanna 3--Chrissy Hartman had two hits, including her sixth home run, and had seven strikeouts for Magnolia.

In the Pacific Coast League:

University 21, Estancia 0 (5, mercy)--Alysia Atchley and Cherstin Worsely combined on a no-hitter, and Adrienne Rice, Kari Rowberg and Atchley combined for nine hits and 12 RBIs for third-place University (9-15, 6-4).

Laguna Hills 5, Aliso Niguel 1--Leea Harlan (8-3) pitched a two hitter and had two hits, including a triple, and four RBIs for league champion Laguna Hills (17-7, 10-0). Leslie Simien scored three runs and stole three bases for the Hawks.

In the Sea View League:

Santa Margarita 8, Corona del Mar 0--Jackie Farmer pitched a one-hitter and struck out 11 for Santa Margarita (15-10-1, 4-6). Christina Ashley hit a grand slam in the second for Santa Margarita.

Irvine 3, El Toro 2 (8)--Missy Brigman drove in the winning run on an infield single with the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the eighth for Irvine (18-9, 7-3), which clinched a tie for second with El Toro (20-7-1, 7-3).

In the South Coast League:

Mater Dei 2, Capistrano Valley 0--Courtney Ryan had a double, a triple, one run scored and an RBI in a victory for top-ranked Mater Dei (25-5, 10-0). Marissa Young pitched a two-hitter with 13 strikeouts for the Monarchs.

In the Sunset League:

Fountain Valley 7, Esperanza 6 (8)--Jackie Killian singled with two outs in the ninth, went to third on another single and scored on an error for visiting Fountain Valley (13-14, 5-5), which clinched third place and a playoff berth. The Barons scored twice in the seventh to tie when Nicole Rambis tripled and scored on single by Lindsey Collins. Collins later scored on a walked.

Los Alamitos 13, Huntington Beach 2--Dinha Mead was two for three with a run scored and three RBIs for No. 7 Los Alamitos (20-5, 10-0). Mandy Rockwell gave up two runs on six hits and struck out seven for Los Alamitos.