Top-ranked Los Alamitos softball beats Mission Viejo

LOS ALAMITOS >> The only thing more impressive than Los Alamitos’ 4-1 nonleague victory over visiting Mission Viejo on Thursday is that the Griffins didn’t play their best. A few errors and miscues allowed the Diablos to put ten ruers on base, but Los Alamitos ace Ryan Denhart stranded nine of them to protect an early lead.

“When (Denhart) is on she’s pretty tough and she’s been coming up big for us so far,” Los Alamitos head coach Rob Weil said. “(Mission Viejo) is very competitive and has been on top for the last two or three years. We were fortunate to win without our “A” game.”

Los Alamitos (9-0) is the new No. 1 team in Califoia, according to Maxpreps, and is No. 2 in CIF Southe Section Division 1. Mission Viejo (7-2) came in as the No. 2 team in Division 2. The Diablos put a ruer on in each iing, but didn’t break though until an RBI groundout in the sixth iing when the Griffins were already leading 3-0.

“That’s something you can’t think about,” Denhart said of the errors behind her. “You just have to focus on the next pitch.”

Denhart went the distance while scattering five hits and striking out four batters. Five of the stranded Diablo ruers were in scoring position.

Los Alamitos took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second iing when Lindsi Deis and Jade Loe hit back to back doubles. The Griffins doubled their lead when Ariana Belarde drove home Deis with a two-out triple to right field. Leadoff hitter Jea Holcomb and cleanup hitter Mary Iakopo tacked on runs in the fifth and sixth iing.

Los Alamitos and Mission Viejo will meet again on Saturday in the Best of the West touament at Pacifica High.