SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: CAMARILLO SHUTS DOOR ON L.B. POLY.

Byline: Daily News

Sarah Dorr nearly pitched a no-hitter for host Camarillo in its 9-0 victory over Long Beach Poly in the first round of the Southern Section Div. I softball playoffs Friday.

Dorr (10-2) gave up one hit, in the first inning, on a ball she almost caught as it came back toward the mound.

``It was just a reflex,'' she said. ``I think if I let it go, (Cambria Miranda) probably would have got to it. She's a great shortstop.''

But Dorr and the Scorpions, ranked No. 4 by the Daily News, couldn't have been too disappointed. They scored four runs in the second inning and five more in the fourth, forcing Long Beach Poly (13-9) to change pitchers three times.

- Lauren Gustus

In other Div. I first-round games:

--Quartz Hill 10, Bishop Amat 4: Host Quartz Hill started the playoffs with a bang, scoring eight runs in the first two innings en route to the home victory.

``Offensively we set the tone, and it was pretty much over,'' Quartz Hill coach Coy Ray said.

Nicole Means and Kelsey Blakenmeyer each hit home runs, combining for six RBI for the Rebels (21-4), who play Royal of Simi Valley on Tuesday in the second round.

--Royal 2, Rio Mesa 1: Royal of Simi Valley (21-5) scored two runs in the third inning and Jordan McPherson made the lead hold up en route to the Highlanders' victory at home.

McPherson pitched a complete-game four-hitter with seven strikeouts to earn her seventh victory of the season. Her counterpart, Ginger Ayala, also pitched well, throwing a complete-game five-hitter.

``Jordan kept us in the game the whole time,'' Royal coach Bill Dishon said. ``Jordan is Jordan. She just does a good job whenever she's out there.''

Heather Erickson started the third-inning rally with a single and scored on Devon Hoflund's line-drive triple. Thanks in part to alert baserunning, Hoflund came around on the relay throw to score what proved to be the game-winning run.

--Simi Valley 4, Hueneme 0: Simi Valley scored three runs in the third inning on Heidi Knabe's bases-loaded single to right-center field and never looked back in the home win.

Chanel Roehner struck out five and allowed three hits in the shutout.

In a Div. II first-round game:

--Crescenta Valley 7, Paso Robles 5: Kirsten Whitt's two-out, three-run double capped a six-run rally in the third inning as host Crescenta Valley of La Crescenta (22-3) overcame an early 4-1 lead by Paso Robles (13-14).

Amanda Peek, Jeanine Deno and winning pitcher Sarah Sherman had two hits apiece for Pacific League champion Crescenta Valley, which received a strong game from junior catcher Peek.

In a Div. IV first-round game:

--Oaks Christian 3, Mary Star 0: Ashlee Freeman pitched a complete-game three-hitter with 11 strikeouts and no walks to extend her winning streak to 16 games as Oaks Christian of Westlake Village won at home.

--Alemany 4, South Pasadena 3: Connie Coady, who had two triples, scored the game-winning run on a Sara Ramirez base hit in the bottom of the seventh inning for host Alemany of Mission Hills (12-8).

--Notre Dame 5, Burroughs/R 1: Racel Barraza pitched a complete-game three-hitter with five strikeouts and finished 2 for 2 at the plate with two RBI for host Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (14-8).

In a Div. V first-round game:

--St. Bonaventure 10, Grace Brethren 0: Jamie Palacios entered the game with an ERA of less than 2.00, but it didn't matter much against St. Bonaventure of Ventura, which had 11 hits in a victory at home.

In Div. VI first-round games:

--L.A. Lutheran 5, North County Christian 1: Kim Johnson pitched her first career no-hitter, striking out 15 for host L.A. Lutheran of Sylmar (13-8).

--Hillcrest Christian (GH) 1, Maricopa 0: UC Santa Barbara-bound Tabitha Espinoza pitched the first no-hitter of her career, striking out nine for host Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills (11-3).

Teammate Kelly Stafford knocked in the game-winning RBI in the bottom of the seventh inning.

--Saddleback Valley Christian 9, Providence 0: Ashlei Limbaga tripled for visiting Providence, but the Pioneers of Burbank (15-8) could manage only one other hit - a single by Liz Roche - in a loss to the top-seeded Warriors of San Juan Capistrano.