Westminster Comes Back to Beat Newbury Park, 4-2

Debbie DeJohn admitted she was nervous when her Westminster High School teammates entered the top of the sixth inning trailing host Newbury Park by two runs.

“But after we got that first hit,” DeJohn said, “I knew we’d score.”

Actually, it was an error, but no matter to DeJohn and the Lions. The misplay helped Westminster score three times in the inning and go on to defeat the Panthers, 4-2, Thursday in the quarterfinals of the Southern Section 4-A softball playoffs.

DeJohn, who improved her record to 21-9, allowed only two hits while striking out three. She also hit the game-tying single in the sixth inning.

Newbury Park’s Debbie Dickmann carried a 2-0 lead into the sixth, having given up just two hits.

But she got into trouble when Kim Wolf hit a ground ball to short and first baseman Delores Decker dropped the throw.

Sandy Martinez followed with a bunt to Dickmann, who tried to get the out at second base. Her throw was late and the Lions had two runners on.

After a sacrifice by Amy Loomer, Heather Illsley hit a grounder to the right of second baseman Robin Blair, who made the stop, but had no play. Wolf scored and Martinez moved to third.

DeJohn then hit a chopper over third baseman Stacy Frydenberg’s head to score Martinez and make it 2-2. Sherlyn Secrist, who had pinch-run for Illsley and stole second, moved to third on DeJohn’s single.

But Secrist scored as shortstop Jackie Mendez hit a grounded out to deep short to make it 3-2.