Orange Lutheran knocks off No. 1

How deep is the county softball scene this season? Unranked Orange Lutheran knocked off top-ranked Santa Margarita, 4-1, in the Trinity League opener for both teams on Tuesday at Santa Margarita High.

Pittsburgh-bound Savannah King turned in a masterful performance, limiting the defending CIF-SS Division 1-champion Eagles to three hits, while walking one and striking out one to get the complete-game victory.

King also delivered a two-run double in the top of the fifth that gave the Lancers a 3-0 lead.

"We were so fired up," King said. "I think everybody was hyped about Santa Margarita and Mater Dei and that's who we have this week. We know we are a good team and we know we can do it.

"I think the rankings, they keep mixing them up. There are so many good teams, but hopefully Orange Lutheran gets up there. I think we're going to show everyone that we can do it and we're going to beat Mater Dei on Friday."

Orange Lutheran improved to 10-2 overall and 1-0 in league, while Santa Margarita dropped to 9-3 and 0-1.

In the Century League:

No. 2 Esperanza 8, No. 7 Foothill 0: The Aztecs (11-0, 4-0) made the host Knights their second top-10 vicitim in as many days using a 12-hit attack to knock off the Knights (10-5, 1-2) at Hillview School.

In the Sunset League:

Marina 9, Newport Harbor 1: Chloe Kaneko went 3 for 4 with two doubles and five RBIs to help the Vikings knock off the Sailors and give Marina coach Shelly Luth her 400th career victory in her 20th season as coach.

In the Freeway League:

Fullerton 2, La Habra 1: Savannah Rojas drove in Micayla Beltran with a two-out single in the bottom of the seventh as the Indians (9-8, 1-0) knocked off the visiting Highlanders (9-3, 0-1).

In the Empire League:

Pacifica 6, Valencia 2: Kristina Akiona kicked off the scoring with a two-run blast in the bottom of the fourth, Ciera Henson went 2 for 2 with a double and the Mariners (10-2, 4-0) beat the visiting Tigers (11-5, 2-2).

Freshman Kaylee Carlson allowed four hits, one walk and struck out seven to record the complete-game victory for Pacifica.

In the Garden Grove League:

Rancho Alamitos 4, La Quinta 3: The Vaqueros (8-5, 1-0) rallied for two runs in the top of the ninth and held on to defeat the host Aztecs (9-3, 0-1) in a battle between the top two teams in the league.

Ali Butorovich went 3 for 4 with a triple, a steal and three runs and Karen Mao went 3 for 5 with an RBI to lead Rancho Alamitos.

In the Pacific Coast League:

Woodbridge 6, Beckman 2: Kayla Clausen went 2 for 3 with a double, a run and one RBI and Aryn Guzman went 2 for 3 with two RBIs as the Warriors (5-8, 1-0) knocked off the host Patriots (4-8, 0-1).

Guzman also went the distance, allowing seven hits, one walk and striking out six to pick up the victory.

Contact the writer: carias@ocregister.com