PACIFIC COAST LEAGUE SOFTBALL : Laguna Hills Makes Good on Promise, Clinches Title

LAGUNA HILLS —  When Laguna Hills and Trabuco Hills last played, the game went 13 innings and seemed to go on forever. So Laguna Hills Coach Cary Crouch promised his players a 75-minute game Tuesday.

Call him a prophet.

The Golden Hawks’ first-inning double-steal and flawless defense provided them with a quick, 1-0 victory that clinched the Pacific Coast League title.

It is the fifth league title in seven years and third in a row for Laguna Hills (18-5, 9-0). Second-place Trabuco Hills is 10-13, 7-2, with one league game remaining.

In the bottom of the first inning, Alycia Stevens and Jennifer Milo had infield singles, putting runners at first and third. Milo’s steal induced a rundown and Stevens scored her 27th run of the year.

A misplay on a first-and-third situation in the 13th inning provided Laguna Hills with the winning run in the first meeting between the teams.