Locals have mixed results

The 2012 Sunset League softball race got underway Tuesday and Edison, Fountain Valley and Los Alamitos scored opening-day victories.

Edison, ranked No. 9 in the CIF Southern Section Division 1 poll, pummeled visiting Newport Harbor, 18-0, in a game called after five innings by the mercy rule. Sammy Cordova (6-0) tossed a two-hitter and the Chargers ran up 11 hits. Jessica Plaza homered with two runs batted in, Courtney Leyba went two for two with a double and three RBIs, Mercedes O’Connor went two for three with a triple and two RBIs, Nicole Zapotoczny had two RBIs and Casey Africano, Carissa Sherman, Sarah Baca and Lizabelle Talataina each drove in a run.

Fountain Valley was a 5-0 winner at Huntington Beach. Khailey Campos powered the Barons offense with a three-for-three performance that included a home run, double, walk and four RBIs. Victoria Brito went two for three and Brenda Bott, Emily Brucelas, Tara Robinson and Kelli Tatum all had a hit.

Rivera went the distance to improve to 9-3. The senior allowed just one hit and that came in the opening inning when Huntington leadoff hitter Jill Martinez doubled. Rivera walked a batter in the second inning but didn’t allow the Oilers a base runner the rest of the way. She finished with eight strikeouts.

In previous action, Fountain Valley (11-4) split a nonleague doubleheader Saturday with visiting Orange Lutheran. The Lancers, ranked third in Division 1, won the first game, 11-1, but the Barons bounced back to post a 6-2 win in the second game.

Fountain Valley committed six errors that led to eight unearned runs in the first game. Brucelas went two for three with a run scored, Robinson went two for three and Victoria Ellard doubled for the Barons.

In the second game, Fountain Valley overcame a tough opening inning to get the win. Rivera, who got the win, gave up a leadoff home run but finished strong with 10 strikeouts. Brucelas had another strong game offensively with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored and Robinson had three hits, an RBI and two runs.

Marina dropped a high-scoring, 5-4 home contest to Los Alamitos. The host Vikings fell behind Los Alamitos, 4-1, but rallied in the fifth inning to score three runs and tie the score. The Griffins scored twice in the top of the seventh to get the win.

In the bottom of the fifth, Tera Blanco took the first pitch offered her by Los Al starter Halle Humphrey for a two-run single to right field that pulled Marina to within 4-3. One out later, Amanda Cordeiro took her first pitch for a single to left field that brought in the tying run. Cordeiro, the go-ahead run, was left stranded at second.

“This is a tough one,” said Marina Coach Shelly Luth, whose squad, ranked fifth in CIF Division 1, fell to 8-2 overall. “I think Tera (Blanco) is one of the best pitchers in the (Orange) county, but they (Los Alamitos) put the ball in play and we made some mistakes. We’re a young team but we have the talent to be very good. It’s all about being mentally and physically tough and confident.”

In Sunset League games Thursday, Fountain Valley hosts Edison, Huntington is home to Los Alamitos and Marina travels to Newport Harbor.

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Brittany Hitchcock threw a complete game, one-hitter with 11 strikeouts as Ocean View successfully launched its Golden West League campaign Tuesday with a 6-0 shutout of visiting Orange.

Erika Jason paced the Ocean View offense with three hits, Kristin Nance had two hits, including a home run, and Hitchcock doubled. Jade Bustamonte and Tobi Salzman both had a hit and two RBIs, Emily Long added hit and RBI and Anika Ortiz doubled.

michael.sciacca@latimes.com

Twitter: @MikeSciacca