Fullerton Clinches Conference Softball Title

Fullerton scored three runs in the first inning and Erin Kelly pitched a four-hitter to make the lead stand up as the Hornets defeated Cypress, 3-1, to clinch the Orange Empire Conference softball title Friday at Fullerton.

Crystal Aguirre had two doubles and drove in two runs for Fullerton (36-5, 18-2). Cypress (27-9-2, 16-4), the three-time defending state champion, had won or shared four straight conference titles.

In other Orange Empire Conference softball games:

Santa Ana 3, Irvine Valley 0--Erica Hammontree pitched a two-hitter, tripled and scored a run for visiting Santa Ana (25-11-1, 13-5).

Orange Coast 3, Saddleback 2--Meredith Miles drove in two runs with a double with two out in the bottom of the seventh for the Pirates (16-23, 5-13).

In the Orange Empire Conference women’s tennis tournament:

Amos advances--Karen Amos of Saddleback swept Lot Keijzer of Orange Coast, 6-3, 6-4, Friday to advance to today’s singles final at Saddleback.

Amos will play Coral Conley of Riverside, who defeated Heidi Ohanesian of Fullerton, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1.

In the doubles semifinals, Conley and Cassie Sumrow of Riverside defeated Keijzer and Erica Goodeof Orange Coast, 7-5, 6-4, and Ohanesian and Sara Sheets of Fullerton defeated Amos and Jex, 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.

Singles play starts at 9 a.m.; doubles at 11.

In the Orange Empire Conference men’s tennis tournament:

DiMartino advances--David DiMartino of Saddleback defeated teammate Arif Hasan, 6-0, 6-1, to advance to today’s title match at Saddleback.

In the other semifinal, Saddleback’s Brock Berry beat Gaucho teammate Jon Lippert, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.

In nonconference golf:

Santa Ana 375, Citrus 380, Santiago Canyon 397--Mac Tedford shot a one-over-par 72 to lead Santa Ana to victory in a tri-match at El Prado.

In Orange Empire Conference men’s volleyball:

Golden West 3, Orange Coast 2--B.J. Lightboat had 30 kills for host Orange Coast (18-4, 12-4), which won, 15-6, 16-14, 10-15, 15-10.