What happened in Arizona this weekend is going to be felt in Orange County and perhaps nationally, and the Los Alamitos softball team should feel good about that.
The Griffins captured perhaps the most prestigious tournament on the West Coast on Saturday by walloping Mater Dei, 11-1, in the championship game of the Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Ariz.
Ryan Denhart, who shut out Pacifica, 4-0, in the semifinals earlier in the day, held the Monarchs (7-1) in check for six innings in the final, allowing five hits and striking out 10.
That effort was matched by the team’s powerful display at the plate. The Griffins (8-0) collected 11 hits, including home runs by Mary Iakopo, Caitie Ladd and Jade Loe.
The Griffins outscored their four opponents in the tournament, 30-1.
Such a dominating effort will likely give Los Alamitos a bump to No. 1 in the Register’s Orange County rankings, which will be released Monday afternoon.
Los Alamitos started the season ranked No. 2 in the county, but it outplayed No.1 Pacifica – as well as No. 4 Mission Viejo and No. 6 Mater Dei – in the tournament.
It seems likely, too, that Los Alamitos could move to No. 1 in the nation. MaxPreps had the Griffins ranked No. 3 in the U.S. last week, behind No. 1 Mission Viejo and No. 2 Oakleaf of Florida.
In other TOC games Saturday:
In the semifinals:
Los Alamitos 4, Pacifica 0: Denhart tossed a five-hitter and had five strikeouts, and Jenna Holcomb went 2 for 3 with two RBI for the Griffins.
Mater Dei 4, Mission Viejo 2: The Monarchs rallied from a 2-1 deficit to end the Diablos’ bid to win the tournament for the third consecutive year.
Neli Casares-Maher drove in two runs with a single and Priscilla Martinez also had an RBI single.
In the third-place game:
Pacifica 4, Mission Viejo 0: Kyra Snyder pitched a two-hitter and drove in a run with a double for the Diablos (7-1).
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TIMBERWOLF CLASSIC SCORES & HIGHLIGHTS
Capistrano Valley, Trabuco Hills and Dana Hills advanced to the semifinals of the Timberwolf Classic.
Capistrano Valley 8, Vista Murrieta 4
Capistrano Valley 7, Irvine 1
Trabuco Hills 2, Tustin 1
Trabuco Hills 6, Northwood 3
Dana Hills 2, Esperanza 0
Dana Hills 5, Laguna Hills 1
Esperanza 11, Loara 2
Irvine 11, Beaumont 0
Valley View 7, Tesoro 0
Cypress 10, Woodbridge 0
Woodbridge 5, Tesoro 2
Valley View 1, Cypress 0
Tustin 8, Northwood 7
