Area roundup: Los Alamitos advances in D1 teis playoffs; Dirtbags get series-opeing win

Los Alamitos High and Harvard-Westlake added another closely contested match to their growing rivalry Friday afteoon, with the defending CIF Southe Section Division 1 boys teis champion Griffins eventually pulling out a 10-8 victory at home in a second-round rematch of last season’s final.

Through the first two rounds of play, the matchup was knotted at 6, with Los Al having swept the singles matches and the Wolverines doing the same on the other side, possibly the result of the teams’ decision to switch the roster around a bit and use some top players in doubles competition.

Riley Smith, who didn’t drop a game all day, and Ethan Kolsky kept the trend rolling with 6-0 victories to open the third round for the Griffins before things were shaken up a bit when Colter Smith took Los Al’s only singles loss of the day, a 6-2 setback.

All eyes were then tued to the doubles courts, with the home squad needing at least one win to pull even once again.

It got that and more as the tandem of Day Lassos and Nick Vogt eaed a 6-1 victory to ensure at worst a 9-9 tie that would have created a decision based upon total games won, with Los Al holding a comfortable edge.

It didn’t come to that however, as Luke Moorhead and Spencer Sween tied the final matchup at 5 after trailing by a game, broke serve to gain the advantage and eventually won 7-5, giving the Griffins the outright victory.

“I think what our team showed is that we have a lot of heart,” Los Al coach Jordan Bridge said. “There was a lot of talk about us losing a lot of seniors, these guys just came and showed what we are capable of when you play together, play with energy and play for each other and that’s really what showed in the third round.”

Next up for the Griffins will be University at home in Monday’s quarterfinals at 3 p.m.

- Daniel Van Hoosier

GREAT OAK 13, POLY 5 >> The Moore League champion Jackrabbits were halted on the road during the second round of the Division 3 playoffs.

CYPRESS 14, MILLIKAN 4 >> The Rams came up short at home, while top-seeded Cypress will move on to face Suy Hills in the Division 3 quarters.

CERRITOS 14, MISSION VIEJO 4 >> The Dons tallied their second blowout of the postseason on their home court and will take on West Torrance in Monday’s Division 3 quarterfinals.

Advertisement

DOWNEY 14, RUBIDOUX 4 >> The Vikings cruised to a win at home and will face Oak Hills in the Division 5 quarterfinals.

ROSEMEAD 10, LYNWOOD 8 >> After wiing a wild-card match and picking up an opening-round victory, the Knights came up just short in their quest to reach the Division 5 quarters.

ARROYO 12, GAHR 6 >> The season came to an end for the Gladiators with a Division 5 loss on the road.

NCAA baseball

LONG BEACH STATE 6, SAN JOSE STATE 2 >> The Dirtbags (29-18) opened a nonconference home series with a win behind three runs in the first iing and three more in the sixth.

Brock Lundquist and David Banuelos delivered two RBIs apiece for LBSU and Daniel Jackson and Luke Rasmussen added one each.

Chris Mathewson picked up the win after striking out nine and walking three over 7 1/3 iings.

The series resumes today at 2 p.m. at Blair Field.

NCAA softball

HAWAII 3, LONG BEACH STATE 2 >> The 49ers (30-20, 10-9 Big West Conference) opened their final regular-season series with a close loss at home, despite home runs from Tierra Falo and Darian Tautalafua.

Tautalafua’s sixth-iing homer was her 15th of the season, setting the LBSU single-season mark, her sixth program record.

Hawai’i (24-28, 8-11 Big West) took the lead for good in the top of the seventh on an RBI double from Nicole Lopez before Long Beach State was retired in order in the bottom by Brittany Hitchcock, who finished off a complete-game win.

Christina Clermont took the loss while striking out five and allowing five hits.

The teams will conclude the regular season today with a doubleheader begiing at noon.