SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: FOR ROYAL, A GAME OF HIT AND MISS ENDS IN LOSS.

Byline: Daily News

Royal High of Simi Valley had plenty of chances during Thursday's Southern Section Div. I quarterfinal softball game against Rosary of Fullerton.

The Highlanders, however, couldn't capitalize on their opportunities.

Royal had runners on first and second with no outs on two different occasions but came away empty both times in a 3-0 loss to third-seeded Rosary at Rancho Park.

``The game could have went either way,'' Royal coach Bill Dishon said. ``Bottom line is you have to score runs to win games. There's not much more to say.''

Royal starting pitcher Kirstie Kenton worked out of several jams, giving up two hits in five innings before being relieved by Jordan McPherson, who struck out four of the 10 batters she faced.

As well as the Royal pitching tandem did, however, Rosary's Darcie McClelland was better. The Brown-bound pitcher kept the Highlanders' bats off balance, throwing a complete-game three-hitter with eight strikeouts - including six in the first two innings.

The score might have been more lopsided had Royal third baseman Nicole Mears not made two diving stops in the second inning, robbing Rosary batters of extra base hits each time.

Mears also snared a liner off the bat of Lizzie Hagen in the fourth inning.

- Sean Ceglinsky

In Div. IV games:

--Dos Pueblos 4, La Canada 0: Ciri Bryan broke up Christina Haake's no-hit bid in the top of the seventh inning with a single and Lana Sanfilippo followed with a base hit, but that was all the offense La Canada could manage in the road loss.

Bryan finished the season batting .542 for the Spartans (19-6), who were making their third consecutive trip to the quarterfinals.

In Div. V games:

--Village Christian 1, Ontario Christian 0: In the midst of a pitching duel, host Village Christian of Sun Valley (20-6) gambled on a squeeze bunt in the fifth inning, scoring the game's lone run.

Village Christian (20-6) advances to the semifinals against Paraclete of Lancaster.

Patricia Servillo and Christina Delaney hit consecutive singles, then executed a double-steal to set the stage for Katie Stauffer, who put down the successful bunt to bring in Servillo.

Lauren Nydam (10-1) kept Ontario Christian at bay, allowing four hits through seven innings and striking out six.

--Paraclete 8, St. Bonaventure 2: With two outs in the sixth inning, Paraclete (14-10) rallied, scoring five runs to put away visiting St. Bonaventure of Ventura.

Tayler Wilson hit a two-run triple to key the breakout inning and ended the day 2 for 4 with two RBI and two runs scored. Teammate Amy Paradiso, a senior, added two triples, finishing 2 for 3 with three RBI.