SOUTHERN SECTION SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS ROUNDUP: TWO-OUT RALLY IN SEVENTH ELIMINATES VALENCIA.

Byline: Daily News

Valencia High gave up two runs with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to lose 2-1 at Lakewood in a disappointing Southern Section Div. I second-round softball loss Tuesday.

The defeat marked the third consecutive year second-seeded Valencia (27-4) had been eliminated by one run against an underdog.

Lakewood No. 9 hitter Lorenda Salazar doubled in the winning run off Tori Rocco (13-3), who was going for her 50th career victory.

``We thought we had it,'' Rocco said. ``We always get so far ... until it gets to the end.''

- Gerry Gittelson

In other Div. I games:

--Los Alamitos 3, Simi Valley 1: Simi Valley's Lisa Modglin led off the game with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch but was thrown out at the plate on Karen Schultz's single to left field.

That would prove costly, as fourth-seeded and visiting Simi Valley (19-7) was held scoreless until freshman Jandie Hendricks tripled in Chanel Roehner in the top of the sixth inning.

Taryn Tulay tripled and scored the eventual game-winning run on Kristin Creshaw's two-out double in the bottom of the fifth for Los Alamitos (23-10), which will face Camarillo in the quarterfinals Thursday.

In Div. IV games:

--Oaks Christian 7, St. Paul 0: There are few holes in the Oaks Christian of Westlake Village batting order, and in the playoffs, it's expected to be much tougher for the Lions to hit at will as they did throughout the regular season.

But balanced offense was evident again as top-seeded Oaks Christian (29-2) easily won its second-round game at home, extending its winning streak to 23 games.

Granted, the dominating pitching of Boston University-bound senior Ashlee Freeman (19-1) is a big reason for the Lions' success. But consider these numbers at the plate: Seven players entered the game hitting at least .316; eight had scored 18 or more runs; and seven had between 12 and 19 RBI. The Lions were carrying a .308 team average and collected 10 more hits in eliminating St. Paul of Santa Fe Springs (16-12).

Amber Peterson, Julia Humphries and Shannon Van Vorst had two hits apiece, and Tiffany Day added a double to lead the way.

``We've had a lot of contributions from a lot of kids,'' Oaks Christian coach Pete Ackermann said.

- Chris Cocoles

--Notre Dame 11, San Jacinto 6: Cori Blanton went 3 for 3 with four runs and three RBI for visiting Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (15-8), which advances to Friday's quarterfinals against Oaks Christian.

--Alemany 7, Buena 4: Things came full circle for Alemany of Mission Hills in the second-round victory over third-seeded host Buena of Ventura.

Alemany lost to Buena 9-0 early in the season on its way to a 4-8 start. Since then, the Indians (13-8) have won nine in a row.

Senior Vanessa Rodrique's RBI triple keyed a six-run third inning for Alemany, which will host Cabrillo of Lompoc in the quarterfinals Thursday.

``The girls were really motivated to come out and show Buena what kind of team we are now and how much we've evolved,'' Alemany coach Regina Hernandez said.

--La Canada 2, San Marcos 1: After six scoreless innings, Annalise Rodli hit a two out, two-run single for visiting La Canada (19-5), which advances to play Dos Pueblos of Santa Barbara on Thursday.

In Div. V games:

--Village Christian 4, Bishop 1: Lauren Nydam pitched a complete-game four-hitter, striking out 14 for top-seeded Village Christian of Sun Valley (19-6), which advances to play Ontario Christian on Thursday.

``Lauren was flat-out dominant today,'' Village Christian coach Jim Stone said. ``No one could touch her.''

--Paraclete 3, Valley Christian 1: Amy Paradiso and Catherine Buttrey each had RBI singles for host Paraclete of Lancaster (13-10), which plays St. Bonaventure of Ventura on Thursday at a site to be determined.