PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Laguna Hills’ Lee Pitches No-Hitter but Can’t Beat Trabuco Hills

Therese Lee had just pitched a no-hitter, but there was no celebration. There was no victory, either.

Lee did her part for Laguna Hills, but the Hawks had other troubles and Trabuco Hills scored a 1-0 Pacific Coast League victory Thursday.

Laguna Hills (8-9-1, 3-1 in league) had a runner in scoring position in five of the seven innings--and had the bases loaded with one out in the fifth--but couldn’t score. Two errors in the second inning were all Trabuco Hills (7-9, 3-1) needed to stop the Hawks’ 31-game league winning streak. Jennifer Griffiths reached on an error by shortstop Misty Thompson, advanced on Natalie Galasso’s sacrifice bunt and scored on third baseman Jennifer Arzola’s throwing error.

“I’d rather win a no-hitter than get 10 hits and lose,” Trabuco Hills Coach Noel Smith said. “We came in and played for one run, but realistically, I didn’t think one run would be sufficient.”

It was for Galasso, who hasn’t allowed a run in 24 innings against league competition. She was backed by the Mustangs’ best defensive performance of the season.

Galasso (7-7) struck out only four but three came with runners in scoring position. The most important came in the fifth when a single, fielder’s choice and walk loaded the bases with one out. Alycia Stevens--who struck out only twice last season and none this season before Thursday--struck out, and then Amber Journell lined to second baseman Ann Marie Froysaa.

“I really thought they were going to score,” said Galasso, one of seven sophomore starters. “After we got out of the fifth, I knew we would win.”

Laguna Hills had a runner at third in the sixth inning, but Galasso got another strikeout and another liner to second; and had a runner at second base in the seventh but Stevens, batting .522 entering the game, grounded to second.

Lee (5-5) walked only two and struck out one. Laguna Hills committed three errors.

“It’s a hollow feeling,” Lee said of her no-hit performance. “You feel you gave it your best and it’s not enough, and it should be.”