Thomas, Cress Key Victory for Moorpark

Robin Thomas pitched a two-hit shutout Saturday to lead the Moorpark College softball team to a 1-0 victory over Cerritos in the Southern California regional of the state tournament at Moorpark.

Aggressive baserunning led to the game’s only run in the fifth inning against Cerritos starter Denelle Drulias.

Missy Cress reached base on a one-out bunt single and stole second and third on consecutive pitches. Rustie Stevens followed with a line drive that third baseman Vickie Davis knocked down. Davis fired the ball to catcher Leslie Mollin but Cress slid wide of the tag and touched the plate.

“I waited for coach to tell me to go,” Cress said. “I knew I had to go around the catcher and that it would be close, but I was safe!”

Thomas (26-6) was in complete command and did not yield a hit (28-11) until the fifth inning, a bloop single by Denise Winn.

Thomas said that despite having a tender arm, she is ready to pitch in the second game of the best-of-three series at noon today. “I’m ready to go and I will give it 110 percent,” she said.

Should Moorpark (28-9) lose, another game will follow. Cerritos is 28-11.

“I know Robin can pitch two games in a 24-hour period, but I’m not sure if she can throw three games in that time period,” Moorpark Coach Will Thurston said. “I have to decide whether to throw her in the first game and get a win, or hold her for the third game if necessary, or let her throw both games if necessary.”