Griffins Pound Chaparral in Softball Playoffs, 8-2

Senior shortstop Allison Brown drove in three runs and crossed the plate twice herself to lead the Los Alamitos softball team to an 8-2 victory over Chaparral of Temecula in a second-round CIF Southern Section Division 1 playoff game Tuesday afternoon at Los Alamitos High.

Brown hit a two out, full-count, fastball over the left-field fence with two runners on base in the second inning to put the Griffins ahead by five runs and out of reach of the Pumas (21-7), runners-up in the Southwestern League.

“I was sitting back and waiting for her to throw a fastball,” said Brown, who will attend Mississippi in the fall. “When she finally did, I just thought about making contact and putting the ball in play, but it felt really good off the bat and went over the fence. Their [Chaparral's] attitude seemed to change after that.”

Fourth-seeded Los Alamitos (26-3), winner of the Sunset League, jumped on the Pumas early when leadoff batter sophomore Erika Crissman worked an eight-pitch at-bat and stroked a 3-2 changeup off the right-center field fence for a double to start the game.

“Coach told us to stay focused on every pitch,” Crissman said of her workmanlike offensive approach. “I went up to the plate with the mindset that I was going to win the battle on every pitch.”

Brown then walked but was thrown out at second on a double steal attempt.
Sophomore Megan Geer also walked and Crissman was brought home on a  sacrifice fly by freshman Infinity Laufou to put the Griffins on the board. Another freshman, catcher Rachel Sellers, drove in another run with a single up the middle to give Los Alamitos a 2-0 lead.

“We wanted to be aggressive at the plate,” Los Alamitos coach Rob Weil said after the game. “I thought we put pressure on them offensively from the beginning and maintained that level of play on both offense and defense throughout the game.”

Chaparral was also stymied by freshman pitcher Andie Formby, who threw a complete game, allowing only two earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts. Formby also retired the side in order in each of the first four innings while her teammates gaver her a 6-0 lead.

“She’s been our ace all season,” Weil said of Formby. “We asked her to let the defense make plays and let them put the ball in play and she did a fine job of that tonight.”

Brown and Crissman led the Griffins' offensive onslaught that amassed 11 hits by seven different players while scoring eight runs.

“Hopefully we can get the same kind of offensive production throughout
the playoffs,” Weil said. “If we do, we are going to be tough to beat.”

Los Alamitos is on the road in the quarterfinals on Thursday, when it travels to face Riverside Poly (18-7), runner-up in the Big VIII League, at 3 p.m.