IRVINE -- After winning a Southern Section title in 2011 by one run, La Canada's victory Saturday in the rematch was a walk in the park.
Behind pitcher Lauren Cox and an offense that capitalized on its opportunities, top-seeded La Canada scored a 7-3 victory against second-seeded Beaumont on Saturday at Barber Park .
Cox (24-3) struck out 10 and carried a two-hitter into the seventh inning, when she gave up three, including a two-run homer to Khassady Valdivia.
She hit one batter.
It's the third title for La Canada (26-4-1), which won in 1995 as well as 2011. Beaumont, which lost last year's title game to the Spartans, 1-0, finished 26-5.
Beaumont's rally was too little too late, even though there was a stretch in which four out of five batters hit the ball deep into the outfield.
The consistency in the La Canada lineup provided far more offense than it did in last year's 1-0 victory over Beaumont in the title game. The top six batters in the lineup had scored or had at least one run batted in, and the top eight batters either scored or had a hit.
Catherine Horner scored three runs, Kelsey Drange had three hits, three RBIs and scored a run; and Jessica Ogden had two hits, a run and two RBIs.
Ogden's two-run double in the fifth didn't seem to be that big at the time, giving the Spartants a 5-1 lead, but they were huge after Beaumont's late rally.
"I never would have thought we'd get seven runs," said K.C. Mathews, the La Canada coach. "This year, up and down the lineup, it's been a different girl. Today, they all did it."
It was especially gratifying for Cox, a senior headed to San Diego; she missed the bulk of last season because of a groin injury.
"Honestly, this is my high school dream," she said. "It's such an accomplishment for me and my team. This whole season I've been able to contribute. I'm so happy I could help."
