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Los Alamitos’ softball team first showed its grit by erupting for 11 runs in the final two innings. The Griffins then displayed their dance moves.
Yes, Los Alamitos found plenty of reasons to celebrate Tuesday night at Huntington Beach.
Gabby Terrones and Callie Fitzpatrick hit home runs in the sixth inning and Bella Rodriguez singled in the go-ahead run to highlight an eight-run seventh as the Griffins defeated the Oilers 11-4 to capture their second consecutive outright Sunset League title.
Los Alamitos players cajoled veteran coach Rob Weil, and assistant Jim Costello, to dance in the postgame celebration.
“That was just a spontaneous thing,” Weil said with a smile. “This team has been through a lot. This team has worked hard since August. … It’s just a group of kids who are grinders. I just felt it was rewarding to see that they got a league championship under the belt by themselves.”
“We didn’t want to share it with anybody,” the six-time section champion added.
Huntington Beach (16-7, 10-2), ranked sixth in the county, led 3-0 going into the sixth. Ace Zoe Prystajko retired her ninth consecutive batter for the first out of the inning but then hit Allyssa Ramos. The No. 4 Griffins (20-5, 12-0) then pounced.
Terrones hit an opposite-field home run that narrowly cleared the fence in left. Prystajko responded with a strikeout but Fitzpatrick — who had struck out twice — tied the score by belting a 1-2 pitch for another home run to left. The ball landed on top of the solar panels in the parking lot.
Los Alamitos sent 13 batters to the plate in the seventh in scoring eight runs. Rodriguez singled in a run for a 4-3 lead. Cienna Kowaleski followed three batters with a two-run single to center.
“What derailed it was giving up the home run to (Fitzpatrick),” Huntington Beach coach Jeff Forsberg said. “For the five-plus innings, Zoe was kind of back in that groove a little bit … We just need to learn to finish.”
Prystajko racked up 13 strikeouts before exiting with one out in the seventh.
Los Alamitos’ Cari Ferguson struck out five en route to a complete game.
The Griffins also received important contributions from backup shortstop Paige Kingery, who filled in for Florida commit Kalie Matsuno (concussion).
“I wouldn’t want to have to play us (in the playoffs),” Weil said. “This team is powerful. This team has got speed. We’ve got pitching. We’ve got a little bit of everything in the mixing bowl.”‘
And even dance moves if the moment calls for it.
In the Crestview League:
Canyon 5, Esperanza 5: The top-two teams in league dueled for 13 innings at Esperanza before the game was suspended due to darkness. Taylor Shumaker had two doubles and four walks for the second-place Aztecs.
In nonleague:
Mission Viejo 2, Capistrano Valley 1: The Diablos cooled off the No. 5 Cougars to build momentum for a South Coast League showdown against Tesoro on Wednesday.
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