HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL : SOUTHERN SECTION CHAMPIONSHIPS : 3-A DIVISION : Aggressive Baserunning by La Mirada Triggers 2-0 Victory Over Quartz Hill

Quartz Hill High appeared to do everything right in its Southern Section 3-A Division softball championship game against La Mirada.

Quartz Hill (23-3) accumulated six hits and played errorless defense, and starting pitcher Heather Meyer allowed only two infield hits, but the Rebels lost to La Mirada., 2-0, at Mayfair Park in Lakewood.

Meyer (21-3) struck out six, but she walked two, both of whom scored.

La Mirada (23-5) took a 1-0 lead in the second inning, scoring without the benefit of a hit. Rose Garces walked and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, but she got caught in a rundown after rounding second base. Garces dived headfirst into third base and was safe after left fielder Regina Pagud, who covered third base on the play, had the ball knocked out of her glove.

Jennifer Molinaro’s fly ball to left field, one of only two balls Meyer allowed out of the infield, scored Garces.

“We’ve used aggressive baserunning all year, and it paid off today,” La Mirada Coach Krystal Meier said.

La Mirada second baseman Jenny Hambly stole second in the sixth inning to set up her team’s other run. Hambly scored on Jenine Mobayed’s infield single that shortstop Debra Meyer bobbled deep in the hole.

Quartz Hill threatened throughout the game but stranded nine baserunners against pitcher Tanya Dickens (19--3).

Trailing 1--0 in the fourth inning, Quartz Hill put runners at second and third with two out. Donna Villa sent a line drive to the gap in right-center field, but right fielder Molinaro made a running catch to end the threat.

“She made the play of the game,” Quartz Hill Coach Coy Ray said.

Quartz Hill mustered one more threat in the top of the seventh, loading the bases with two out.

Pinch-hitter Sara Hugginson started the inning with a single, and Vanessa Ervan followed with another single.

After Pagud hit into a fielder’s choice and Debra Meyer popped out, Villa drew a walk to load the bases.

“We had what we wanted, runners in scoring position with (Debra) Meyer, Villa, and (Cindy) Sims coming up,” Ray said. “I felt real good about that.”

But Sims popped out to Hambly to end the game.

“We scored five runs with two outs against Don Lugo in the last round,” Ray said.

“Sometimes, I guess your luck just runs out.”