ANAHEIM – There was no real surprise seeing Amador Valley of Pleasanton advance to the finals of the Michelle Carew Classic.
Boasting one of the best pitchers in the nation in Johanna Grauer, the Dons did not allow a run in their four wins leading up to the championship game Saturday night,
In the dugout opposite of Amador Valley, however, was Los Alamitos, the Cinderella team of the tournament, led by a youth-infused lineup.
Through five innings of the championship game Saturday night, it looked as if the Griffins’ youngsters were poised to pull off the major upset.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, however, the Dons showed why they are regarded as one of the best teams around.
Trailing by a run late, Victoria Molina’s two-run double in the bottom half of the sixth inning catapulted Amador Valley to a 2-1 victory over Los Alamitos in the championship game of the Carew Classic at Peralta Canyon Park.
“We’ve grown tenfold over these last four days,” Griffins coach Rob Weil said. “They’re coming into their own and we’re starting to get good pitching consistently, which is keeping us in games. We’re going to be a team to be reckoned with the rest of this season.”
The Griffins (13-7) scored the first run of the game in the top of the third inning when Mary Iakopo led off with a double to left field. After being sacrificed to third, Iakopo scored on a throwing error by Dons shortstop Ashley Lotosynki.
Los Al pitcher Ryan Denhart maintained that lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
The Dons (13-0) led off the inning with back-to-back infield singles from Nicole Yozzo and Sammy Salustri.
With no outs, Grauer sacrificed the runners to second and third base, and Weil had Denhart intentionally walk Amador’s cleanup hitter, Lotosynki, loading the bases for Molina.
“I’m pleased with how we performed all week long,” Weil said. “Obviously we really wanted this one, but it wasn’t in the cards for us tonight.”
Also in the Carew Classic:
In the fifth-place game:
No. 2 Pacifica 12, Vista Murrieta 5: The Mariners trailed 2-0 headed into the bottom of the third inning before scoring nine consecutive runs to seize control.
Right fielder Dominique Espinoza went 2 for 2 with three RBI and shortstop Faith Canfield went 1 for 2 with a bases-clearing double in the fifth inning.
Contact the writer: kconnolly@ocregister.com