LA QUINTA and Pacifica notched important league softball wins on Thursday (Shutterstock).

The La Quinta High softball team climbed back into the Garden Grove League race with an 8-5 win over Rancho Alamitos Thursday afternoon. The Aztecs are 2-2 in league and 7-4 overall, while the Vaqs are 2-2 and 4-9.

Nicole Takao starred for LQ with a single, a triple and two runs scored, while shining on defense. Thalina Niang added a single, a double and two RBIs while making five catches in center field. Ryann Nadeau got the Aztecs started by driving in the teams’ first two runs.

The blue-and-gold are ranked first in the CIF-SS Division 7 poll.

Pacifica’s softball team remained unbeaten with a 3-1 victory over Cypress. The Mariners are 5-0-1 overall and 2-0 in Empire League action, tied for first with Kennedy.

Julia Cabral struck out four batters and yielded just two hits for the M’s. Alyssa Brito had two hits and drove in two runs. The Centurions (12-7-1 and 2-0) came into the game ranked 10th in Division 2.

In baseball action, Andy Pham pitched a complete game for Rancho Alamitos as the Vaqueros defeated Los Amigos 7-0 in a Garden Grove League contest. He struck out seven batters and had two hits, including a double. Nathan Alcaron doubled and drove in three RBIs.

Rancho remains a half-game back of Loara in the GGL with a 7-1 mark, 9-5 overall.

Here are scores from Thursday baseball and softball games for teams in The Tribune’s coverage area. More results will be posted as they become available.

Baseball

• Rancho Alamitos 7, Los Amigos 0

Softball

• La Quinta 8, Rancho Alamitos 5
• Pacifica 3, Cypress 1
• Los Amigos 7, Bolsa Grande 4
• Anaheim 5, Magnolia 0.