Southern Section Softball Playoffs : Only 3 County Teams Remain in 4-A

Only three Orange County softball teams have advanced to today’s second round of the Southern Section 4-A playoffs.

And one county team will be eliminated when third-seeded Fountain Valley High School (22-6-1) plays host to defending 4-A champion Cypress (16-10) at Fountain Valley at 3 p.m.

In the first round, Sunset League champion Fountain Valley trounced North Torrance, 14-1. Freshman pitcher Rae Rice led the Barons’ attack, improving her record to 17-5 with a four-hitter. She also went 3 for 3 with a home run and four RBIs.

Empire League champion Cypress defeated Mater Dei, 4-1. Cypress was led by sophomore Beth Howard, who pitched a three-hitter.

Ocean View takes on top-seeded Gahr and its phenomenal junior pitcher, DeDe Weiman, at Ocean View.

Ocean View (14-12), which finished fourth in the Sunset League and received an at-large berth in the 4-A playoffs, soundly defeated Bay League champion South Torrance, 11-0, in the first round. Gahr (24-7), led by Weiman (22-2), defeated Long Beach Jordan, 5-0.