Too many Ks for the Heralds ...

Whittier Christian struggled at the plate and dropped a 2-0 decision to visiting Torrance in a CIF-SS, Division V quarterfinal softball playoff game Saturday afternoon.

The loss ends the Heralds' season with a 19-9-1 record that includes the Olympic League (6-2) championship.

Pitcher Courtney McGee struck out five, walked three and gave up just four hits, but two of the hits and one of the walks accounted for the Tartars' runs in the top of the sixth inning.

Torrance pitcher Jessica Moon gave up a leadoff double to Rebekah Kikuchi in the bottom of the first inning, and Nicole Fett's bloop single that landed just inches fair inside the right field line in the bottom of the seventh. In between, Moon struck out 16, including 11 in a row.

The Heralds' loss leaves the area with two teams still in postseason play.

La Serna will be on the road Tuesday to face unbeaten Crescenta Valley (29-0) in a Division III softball semifinal game. The Lancers edged Beckman, 2-0, in Friday's replay of Thursday's game that was halted after one inning due to rain and lightning.
Crescenta Valley, the division's No. 1 seed, blanked Santa Monica, 3-0, to advance.

St. Paul will be home Tuesday to host Paraclete in a Division V baseball semifinal game. The Swordsmen downed Serrano, 6-2, as Gabriel Encinas struck out 11 Friday.
Paraclete advanced via a 15-1 rout of Hesperia.