Softball: Top-ranked teams fall in Huntington Beach

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It wasn’t a great afternoon for the teams at the top of The Times’ rankings at the Faster To First Tournament in Huntington Beach.
In the opening game of pool play, second-ranked Norco dropped a 1-0, eight-inning decision to Oakley Freedom despite a two-hit effort from Teagan Gerhart.
In the following game, top-ranked Hart fell victim to Fairfield Rodriguez by a 4-1 count. Third-ranked Vista Murrieta dropped its tournament opener, 3-1 to Elk Grove Pleasant Grove, and #4 Simi Valley was hammered, 7-1 by Garden Grove Pacifica.
Fifth-ranked Valencia was the top Southland team to survive its opening game, as the Vikings held off Vista Murrieta 2-1.
Tenth-ranked Esperanza locked up a spot in the quarterfinals by sweeping its two games this afternoon.

--Eric Maddy