Klein has Highlanders off ... and running

An outstanding performance Wednesday by freshman pitcher Kayla Klein
pushed La Habra into Friday's first round of the CIF-SS, Division III
softball playoffs.

The Highlanders will travel to Irvine to face
Beckman, the Pacific Coast League champion, ranked No. 4 in the final
CIF-SS poll and seeded No. 4 in the division for the playoffs.

Klein scattered four hits, tied her season high with 12 strikeouts and walked
one in leading a 2-1 win over visiting Quartz Hill. Klein also had the game-winning hit, a two-out, bases-loaded, RBI-single in the sixth inning that broke a 1-1 tie.

In Wednesday's other wild card game involving an area team, California rolled over host Westminster La Quinta, 16-3, and will be on the road to face Ocean League champion, Santa Monica (21-8) Friday.

Other softball games scheduled Friday:
Temescal Canyon (21-6) is at La Mirada (20-7)
Wild card winner between Burbank/Burroughs (13-12)-La Reina (13-11) at
host La Serna (20-7)
Santa Fe (14-12) at Laguna Hills (20-6)
St. Paul (16-10) at Chaminade (15-10)
WC winner between Mark Keppel (14-5)-Duarte (10-12) at Whittier Christian (17-8-1)
Flintridge Prep (12-7) at Schurr (16-6)
WC winner between La Canada (12-12)-Ridgecrest Burroughs (16-10) at
Montebello (11-14)
WC winner between Arroyo (14-8)-Sacred Heart of Jesus (7-9) at Cantwell
Sacred Heart (17-9).

Baseball games Thursday:
California (17-11) at Cajon (22-3)
La Mirada (18-12) at Paloma Valley (21-3)
Montebello (15-8) at La Serna 18-8)
Downey (18-10) at El Rancho (20-4)
Bishop Montgomery (15-10-10 at Whittier Christian (16-10)
Montclair Prep (16-10) at St. Paul (18-11-1)

Baseball game Friday:
Santa Maria St. Joseph (12-12) at La Habra (14-9).