Los Altos High School, with its season on the brink, showed Thursday, it’s rich in heart as it is in talent.
Sophomore Courtney Gano hit a key double to spark a two-run rally in the seventh and freshman Lexi Garcia singled home Erica Cota in the 10th and the Conquerors rallied to score a 4-3 victory over visiting Sonora in a CIF-Southern Section Division III first-round game.
Los Altos, getting two RBIs from Garcia and a solid effort in the circle from senior Diana-lynn Patterson, improved to 21-6 and will face Oak Park, 2-0 winners over Burbank Burroughs Thursday, in the second round on Tuesday.
The Conquerors, getting sacrifice flies from Garcia and Patterson, scored two runs in the seventh to tie it at 3 before Garcia singled with two outs and the based loaded in the 10th to win it, 4-3.
Los Altos coach Lydell McCullough: “I was a little worried there. But we’ve been doing this all season. This is a veteran group and they never give up, and they believe they can get back in any game, any time.”
Courtney Gano: “We just never gave up. I know (early in the game) we were a little nervous because we didn’t know how (Sonora) was, but we came through. We never gave up. We showed heart.”
Lexi Garcia: “I knew I had to come through. I had a feeling I was going to get (the hit).”
With senior Diana-Lynn Patterson in the circle, can Los Altos finally make a deep playoff run? The Conquerors are off to a good start with a 4-3 victory over Sonora on Thursday.
RESULTS: All head coaches should call in results to 626-962-8811, Ext. 2233, 2242 or email to scores@sgvn.com, and since you’re reading this, at least POST your score on this game thread so we can get scores updates ASAP, thanks.
CIF-Southern Section playoff schedule
Thursday’s first-round results
Division III
Los Altos 4, Sonora 3, 10 innings
Chino Hills 4, Bonita 1
Glendora 3, Dana Hills 1
Knight 5, Charter Oak 3
Division IV
Bishop Amat 7, Morro Bay 1
Division V
South Hills 14, Keppel 4
San Dimas 16, Schurr 2
Azusa 2, Victor Valley 0
Northview 10, Savanna 1
Rowland 6, Sierra Vista 1
West Covina 6, Cerritos Valley Christian 1
Santa Ana Calvary Chapel 6, Covina 5
Division VI
Arroyo 6, Baptist Christian 0
South El Monte 24, Sacred Heart of Jesus 0
