Smith Leads El Toro Past Whittier California

Winning pitcher Joe Smith hit the go-ahead home run to lead El Toro past Whittier California, 3-1, in the first round of the Southern Section Division III baseball playoffs Thursday at El Toro High.

Smith led off the bottom of the sixth with a home run to break a 1-1 tie for the Chargers (19-7-1), who advanced to play the Laguna Hills-Saugus winner Tuesday. Smith pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief to improve to 6-3.

Catcher Matt Steinau had three hits for El Toro. California ended 15-10.

In the Division II softball playoffs:

Irvine 2, West Covina 1--Colleen Young pitched a three-hitter with five strikeouts for host Irvine (22-6-1), which scored twice in the first inning.

Irvine’s Katy Morrison singled and Brett Nakabayshi followed with a double. Morrison scored on a passed ball and Nakabayshi scored on a groundout by Debbie Tomoguchi.

In Division VI:

St. Margaret’s 9, Anza Hamilton 4--Gina Arreola had two hits, three RBIs and two runs scored and Mariko Obrero had two RBIs for visiting St. Margaret’s (15-4), which plays the winner of top-seeded Temecula Linfield and Fontana Ambassador Christian.

In the Division I badminton quarterfinals:

Bolsa Grande 12, West Covina 7--Tong Ta won his two singles matches, 12-15, 15-9, 15-6 and 16-14, 15-13, then teamed with Lily Nguyen to win in mixed doubles, 15-9, 15-6, for host Bolsa Grande (12-5).

Garden Grove 11, Diamond Bar 8--Kevin Hoang swept his singles matches, 15-2, 15-4 and 15-4, 15-1, for visiting Garden Grove (17-3). Fourth-seeded Garden Grove advanced to the semifinals to play top-seeded Alhambra Keppel, which defeated La Habra, 19-0.