The local high school baseball and softball races are headed towards their final stretches, with many teams in the Garden Grove-Stanton-Westminster area in contention for a title or at least a playoff spot.
In the Garden Grove League baseball race, La Quinta (8-1) began the week with a one-game lead over Garden Grove (7-2) and Rancho Alamitos (7-2). The Argos and Aztecs play twice this week, while La Quinta and Rancho are set to clash in the last two games of the season (May 11 and 13).
In GGL action Tuesday, La Quinta blanked Garden Grove 6-0 behind Michael Hill’s one-hitter, letting Rancho Alamitos take possession of second with a 8-2 win over Los Amigos. Santiago beat Bolsa Grande 9-1.
La Quinta’s softball team, once used to the lower depths of the GGL, is on top with a 4-0 mark, trailed by (who else?) Garden Grove and Rancho, both 3-1.
But on Tuesday, Rancho knotted up the race with a 2-1 win over the Aztecs.
Empire League baseball has been tough for Pacifica; the Mariners began the week 4-5 in league, good for fourth place. The Mariner softball team is doing better, tied for with Valencia, both at 4-0.
The M’s and Tigers clashed on Tuesday and the Mariners posted a 3-2 win and vaulted into first place in the league.
In the Golden West League, Orange (7-2) and Westminster (6-3) are still very much in the race behind first place Ocean View (8-1); that trio is likely to be the league’s CIF qualifiers.
The softball situation is a little different; Orange (2-2) and Westminster (1-2) are in the middle of the pack.
In the Orange League baseball chase, Magnolia is 5-4 (third place) and Western 3-6 (fifth) behind leader Savanna (8-1). In OL softball, Magnolia (2-0) and Western (2-1) are second and third behind leader Savanna (4-0).
On Tuesday Magnolia fell 10-0 to Savanna and Western blanked Century 12-0.
Saturday’s results saw La Quinta split a pair of softball games in the Loara Tournament, losing 10-2 to Crescenta Valley and beating Santa Fe 1-0.
Friday’s action in baseball had Garden Grove hammering Bolsa Grande 14-2, while La Quinta beat Los Amigos 4-1 (see game story) and Rancho Alamitos beat Santiago 13-6.
In the Golden West League, Westminster fell to Santa Ana 7-2, but Orange loaded up against Saddleback 31-2. In the Orange League, Magnolia bested Western 10-5.
Softball action in the GWL had Segerstrom defeating Westminster 5-1 and Orange falling to Ocean View 10-5.
On Thursday (April 22), Rancho blanked Bolsa 15-0 in GGL play, while La Quinta bested Santiago 16-2 and Garden Grove sailed past Los Amigos 10-0. Empire League softball saw Pacifica blank Cypress 5-0.
