PREP SOFTBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS

South Hills 2, St. Paul 1--St. Paul’s Janet Lovato and South Hills’ Stacey Vogliardo were locked in a typical pitching duel during the Division IV championship final when a potential double-play ground ball turned into the game-winning play.

With the score tied, 1-1, entering the fourth inning, Julie Giambi singled for South Hills (22-8) and advanced to second on an error. Vogliardo then grounded to second baseman Susy Hurtado, who made the force at second. But Hurtado stumbled while crossing the bag and was unable to throw to first, allowing Giambi to score the tiebreaking run.

St. Paul fell to 26-8.

Temecula Linfield 3, Boron 0--Janelle Gonzales threw a three-hit shutout, striking out 10 and walking none to lead Linfield in the Division VI championship game.

Linfield (27-3) took advantage of three errors by Boron (24-3) and scored unearned runs in the second and fourth innings to capture its third title in the last four years.

Losing pitcher Summer Richardson (24-3) had a streak of 167 innings without giving up an earned run, but that streak was broken in the fifth inning when Nicole Fox had an run-scoring double.

With one out, Jenny Pahl walked, took second on Richardson’s wild pitch and stole third before scoring on Fox’s double.