Senior outfielder Callie Fitzpatrick’s first-inning grand slam was all the Los Alamitos High softball team would end up needing as the Griffins shut out Marina High, 9-0, in a Sunset League game on Thursday at Los Al High. In the final regular season home game the Griffins honored their seniors, many of whom played a part in a win that got the Griffins to 11-0 in the Sunset League.
Senior pitcher Cari Ferguson allowed just one base runner through four innings, setting the Vikings down in order in the second, third and fourth innings. She had five strikeouts and some solid defense did the rest.
Meanwhile, the Griffins offense struck quickly when senior outfielder beat out a chopper down the first base line when the defender bobbled the ball. After a hit batter and a walk to senior Gabby Terrones, Fitzpatrick launched a fly ball to left field for a quick 4-0 lead.
Another hit batter and a double by junior Cienna Kowaleski kept the rally going, and one out later, junior Paige Kingery drove in another run with a sacrifice fly to center field. In the bottom of the third, the Griffins got back-to-back home runs from senior catcher Allyssa Ramos and Kowaleski to stretch the lead to 7-0.
In the bottom of the fifth, a walk and double by Kingery, led to a two-run single by senior outfielder Ava Morales and a 9-0 lead that led to Head Coach Rob Weil going to reserve players the rest of the game.
Marina threatened in the top of the fifth, with singles by junior Rachel Ruiz and sophomore Mia Valbuena to lead off the inning. But a grounder to senior second baseman Isabella Rodriguez led to a double play as she tagged the runner and threw to first to quell the threat.
Ferguson struck out the next batter to keep the Vikings off the scoreboard.
The Griffins were 19-5 overall heading into this week, with a game at Huntington Beach (10-1) on Tuesday. The Griffins are looking to capture a Sunset League Championship as they await the playoff brackets which are scheduled to be released on Saturday at 10 a.m.
