ANAHEIM Orange County’s top-two ranked softball teams shined in dueling games under the lights Wednesday on the opening night of the Michelle Carew Classic at Peralta Canyon Park.
Top-ranked Orange Lutheran claimed its second victory of the day by dispatching Santiago of Corona, 4-0, behind a shutout and five strikeouts from BYU committed sophomore Taryn Lennon.
Just moments earlier on the adjacent field, No. 2 Los Alamitos defeated Canyon, 7-1, in its opener behind a late grand slam by sophomore third baseman and Utah commit Ali Belarde. It was Belarde’s second home run of the season and supported a strong out by left-hander Sarah Ladd in the circle.
Los Alamitos (13-0) advances to the second round Thursday night at 5:30 against Mater Dei of Chula Vista, which beat Cypress, 6-3.
“We got a combination of decent pitching, decent defense and we scored some runs,” Griffins coach Rob Weil said. “That combination, you’re going to win a lot of ball games.”
Canyon freshman designated hitter Madison Askins had a single and double against Los Alamitos.
Lennon (8-1) also earned the victory in a 12-2 decision against Murrieta Valley in the first round of the 32-team tournament. The Lancers (16-1) return to action Friday at 3:15 p.m. against the winner of the Poway, Yucaipa, Grand Terrace and Esperanza grouping.
Lennon carried the pitching duties since fellow pitcher Mia Bagatorian was out with the flu.
“(Santiago) is a really good hitting team,” said Lennon, who allowed only four hits. “Getting ahead in the count (was important) … and just moving the ball. As you can tell, I don’t blaze the ball by hitters.”
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