La Canada Routs Katella 8-1, Faces South El Monte in Semis

A win in the quarterfinals shouldn't come this easily, but the made Thursday's quarterfinal contest against visiting Katella look like a run of the mill Rio Hondo League affair, routing the Knights by a score of 8-1.

The Spartans now face South El Monte semifinals in the CIF-Southern Section Division 5 playoffs next Tuesday at La Cañada High School.

For the first time in the playoffs, the Spartans found themselves in an early hole as the Knights scored one run in the first aided in part by an error by the Spartan third baseman.

But La Cañada recovered to score five runs in the second -- three of which via a bases-loaded double from senior Megan Siepler.

Senior hurler Lauren O'Leary took care of the rest, shutting down Katella for the final six frames. She finished with 10 strikeouts and also had a hand in two double plays that foiled rallies in the third and fourth innings.

Check back with La Cañada Flintridge Patch Friday for the full story and photos from Thursday's playoff game.