By John Sherrard
Correspondent
MONTEBELL0--It doesn’t get any better than the battle of Montebello in the CIF–Southern Section softball opening round playoffs between Cantwell Sacred Heart and Schurr High Thursday afternoon.
Schurr High (21-7), ranked fifth in Division 5, had 11 hits en route to a 6-2 victory over the visiting Cardinals (12-9).
The Spartans will play the winner of the Barstow-Magnolia contest in a second-round game on Tuesday.
“We’re going to celebrate (Thursday) and just going to try and stick to our game plan,” Schurr coach Jackie Montanez said. “We make the playoffs, but haven’t really gone past the first round too often. We’re looking forward to see how far we can go and make some noise.”
The cross-town rivals, both second place teams from their respective leagues, didn’t waste any time at the plate as each team scored a run in the first inning and combined for five hits.
THURSDAY’S SCORES
Division 2
La Mirada 7, Beckman 0
Division 3
La Serna 6, Notre Dame/Sherman Oaks 1
Division 4
La Habra 18, Woodcrest Chr. 0
Bloomington 8, Whittier Chr. 7
Division 5
Montebello 5, Silverado 0
Schurr 6, Cantwell 2

Cantwell, who only has one senior on the team, scored a run after shortstop Britny Huerta (2 for 3), walked and eventually came around to score on a single by Alexis Pintado to lead 1-0.
The Spartans answered in the bottom half of the inning after a leadoff single by junior shortstop Emily Sanchez (2 for 3, 2 runs scored), who was singled in by designated player Byanka Diosdado. The senior also knocked in another run in the third with a double over the left fielders’ head.
The top three batters (Sanchez, Jessica Rivera and Diosdado) for Schurr accounted for four runs, seven hits and four RBIs.
“Usually the way it works is the top of the order for us is what we really rely on heavily,” Montanez said. “The top of the lineup carried us today and they did a great job.”
Jessica Rivera, who along with her twin sister Jaimee, are headed to a community college (Howard) in west Texas, was 3 for 4 with two RBIs.
“I just go out there and play with heart and leave it all out on the field,” Jessica Rivera said. “Getting out of the first round feels like a big monkey off of my back.” Rivera also doubled in two runs in the fifth inning for a 6-2 lead.
Cantwell scored their only other run of the game off starter Jacklyn Zacarias (11-2) in the third when junior right fielder Brianna Villarreal scored on a fielders’ choice by freshman first baseman Sabrina Gomez (2 for 3).
Cantwell sophomore Anais Sustayta led the team with three hits and made some outstanding plays at second.
“I am so proud of them,” Cantwell coach Marilyn Flores said. “They should hold their heads up high.”
La Mirada 7, Beckman 0 –– Valerie Alvarado scattered five hits with six strikeouts for the Matadores, who improved to 22-7.
Lisa Perez had three hits with a double and two RBIs and Annie Dipillo had four hits with a double.
Montebello 5, Silverado 0 — Celeste Rodriguez improved to 8-2 and went the distance allowing three hits one walk and striking out two.
The Oilers (19-4) got all the offense required from April Marquez who went 2 for 3 with two runs scored, a RBI and a stolen base. Alyssa Soneff was 1 for 3 with a double and Andrea Rocha went 1 for 3 and scored a run.