Mater Dei Finally Advances Runners to Plate, Wins Opener

Just when the game had extra innings written all over it, Mater Dei scored twice in the bottom of the sixth to beat Simi Valley, 2-0, in the first round of the Southern Section 5-A softball playoffs Thursday at Harvard Park.

The third-seeded Monarchs (20-6), champions of the Angelus League, move to the quarterfinals May 23 against Fountain Valley (20-4).

Mater Dei had runners in every inning and twice came close to scoring before the sixth.

Jennifer Clark led off the sixth with a double to the gap in left, Terri Kobata walked and Melinda Ramirez reached on an infield single to load the bases. Dawn Kobata followed with a sacrifice fly to center that scored Clark and advanced the other two runners.

Kim Fox then hit a grounder to shortstop Taina Tande, who threw out Terri Kobata at the plate for the second out of the inning. But on a ball-four pitch to leadoff batter Jennifer Cline, left-handed catcher Kathy Beasley threw the ball into left field trying to catch Ramirez off third and Mater Dei had its second run.

Monarch right-hander Amy Godwin (9-4) gave up an infield single to Amy Powell--one of three hits she allowed--leading off the seventh, but retired the next three batters. The senior struck out five, walked none and allowed only two balls out of the infield.

“Amy pitched a great game,” Mater Dei Coach Cathy Quesnell said. “I was very pleased with her. She didn’t get rattled.”

Godwin didn’t have much reason to be concerned, except perhaps in the third inning when Simi Valley’s Michele Castonguay led off with a double over right fielder Terri Kobata’s head. Castonguay moved to third on a groundout by Beth Maples, but Monarch shortstop Rose Imbriano grabbed a liner by Tande and threw to third to double up Castonguay.

In a wild-card game Tuesday, Simi Valley (19-6) collected 10 hits in a 12-1 victory over Santa Maria. But Thursday, the Pioneers were baffled by Godwin.

“We had opportunities to score runs but didn’t get the job done,” Coach Suzanne Manlet said.

Ramirez went two for two with a sacrifice bunt and Terri Kobata had a single and two walks for the Monarchs. Right-hander Heather Santiago (7-3) was charged with the defeat.