Rain spoils showdown, disrupts Carew Classic

Los Alamitos' Lindsi Dennis, center, is congratulated after hitting a home run against Mission Viejo in the first inning of a rain-shortened quarterfinal game in the Michelle Carew Classic Friday. The game was called in the third inning with Mission Viejo ahead 5-1.
Mission Viejo's Kyra Snyder pitches against Los Alamitos in a game that was postponed.
Mission Viejo's Peyton Cody gets high-fives after scoring in the third inning against Los Alamitos in a rain-shortened quarterfinal game of the Michelle Carew Classic.
Los Alamitos Kaitlyn Parsons is tagged out by Mission Viejo shortstop Samantha Dees as Parsons tries to steal second base Friday in the Michelle Carew Classic.
Mission Viejo's Terra McGowan steps up to the plate in the second inning of the Michelle Carew Classic on Friday. The game was called in the third inning with Mission Viejo ahead, 5-1.
Mission Viejo's Kyra Snyder tries to wipe the mud off her cleats as she stands on third base in the second inning of the Michelle Carew Classic on Friday.
The coaches for Los Alamitos and Mission Viejo talk with the umpire and tournament director Lance Eddy during the second inning of the Michelle Carew Classic on Friday. The game was halted after two innings due to the field's condition.
Los Alamitos' Paige Austin cranks up to deliver a pitch against Mission Viejo in the first inning of a rain-shortened quarterfinal game of the Michelle Carew Classic on Friday.

By Matthew Bain | Orange County Register

April 8, 2016 at 9:17 p.m.

ANAHEIM – Apparently Mother Nature isn’t a softball fan.

She wasn’t Friday, as on-and-off showers ultimately postponed the Michelle Carew Classic during its quarterfinals at Peralta Canyon Park.

Tournament organizer Lance Eddy let Los Alamitos and Mission Viejo – ranked 1-2 in the county as well as the state – finish the second inning of their game before he shut the classic down. With more rain expected Saturday, the semifinals and final were also postponed.

“It was a safety factor out there where we just didn’t want to go any further, especially with the No. 1 and 2 teams in the state,” Eddy said. “I didn’t think there was any reason to be going out there and sliding around.”

Mission Viejo (12-2) led the Griffins, 5-1, after two innings. Terra McGowan was 2 for 2 with a solo homer and an RBI single. Lindsi Dennis homered for Los Alamitos (14-1) in the first.

Diablos coach Troy Ybarra and Griffins coach Rob Weil will decide when and where they’ll continue their quarterfinal, Eddy said.

“The girls are playing hard, they always play hard, and that’s when you’re going to get an injury,” Ybarra said. “You’ve got mud sticking when you’re sliding, home plate’s wet all day long, grip of the ball (isn’t good so) somebody could get hit in the head – it’s just not safe.”

Canyon del Oro of Arizona beat Capistrano Valley earlier in the day to earn a spot in the semifinals, but it chose to give up its spot and travel back home.

That means the quarterfinal between California of Whittier and No. 7 Huntington Beach – which never got started Friday – will be the de facto semifinal for that side of the bracket. That game will be Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. at Canyon.

When Los Al and Mission Viejo finally do continue Friday’s game, the winner will face No. 5 Orange Lutheran in their semifinal. The Lancers beat Amador Valley of Pleasanton, 2-0, with a six-inning, weather-shortened perfect game from junior Maddy Dwyer.

Eddy said it could take a couple weeks for the classic to end. Weil and a Diablos assistant coach briefly discussed potential dates to continue their game, but none worked.

“Everyone’s in league now, that’s the hard thing,” Eddy said.