Hart Loses Another Quarter as California Wins, 3-1

Hart High’s softball season ended with a quarterfinal loss for the fourth consecutive year, as California defeated the Indians, 3-1, Thursday in a Division II game at Newhall Park.

The Del Rio League co-champion Condors broke a 1-1 tie with a run off Lindsey Kontra in the fourth inning and added an insurance run in the sixth off reliever Ashley Calendo.

“They hit Lindsey pretty hard,” Hart Coach Cathy Giordano said. “She was getting up a little in the strike zone.”

Kontra (12-4) allowed two runs and four hits, including two triples and a double, over 3 1/3 innings.

California (23-4) scored in the first when leadoff hitter Stefanie McMinn reached base on second baseman Erica Duhart’s throwing error and scored on pitcher Christine Wann’s two-out triple.

The Foothill League runner-up Indians (25-6) tied the score in the bottom of the first.

Leadoff hitter Kristin Lueke chopped a grounder over drawn-in second baseman Jennifer Davis for a single. Lueke took second on Erin Krallis’ sacrifice, third on Sara Dean’s ground out and scored when Casey Pickard singled to left.

Wann (12-3) limited the Indians to two hits the rest of the way.

Kontra doubled leading off the seventh. Pinch-runner Shanna Mann went to third on Nicole Delfino’s ground out, but Duhart flied to center and Meaghann Flaherty lined to third to end the game.