El Camino Real Takes Advantage of 3 Errors : Softball: The defending City 4-A champion pins a 3-0 loss on 3-A Monroe.

WOODLAND HILLS — Before his team took the field at El Camino Real High Wednesday, Monroe softball Coach Bill Hence issued one advisory:

“Don’t make any errors.”

The Vikings played flawless for five innings, but their three errors in the sixth helped the defending City Section 4-A champion Conquistadors break a scoreless tie on their way to a 3-0 nonleague victory.

El Camino Real senior pitcher Gretchen Vandenberg threw a two-hitter in her first start since her sophomore year to help the Conquistadors improve to 5-1. Monroe (1-3) is the defending 3-A champion.

“All things considered, I thought I did pretty good,” Vandenberg said. “I had a lot of confidence. We’re a pretty good defensive team.”

So was Monroe, until the sixth. With one out, third baseman Chris Sawell couldn’t field a sacrifice bunt by Vandenberg. Following a double steal, Kristin Gutekunst singled home Ramona Shelburne.

Then Viking center fielder Genise Vargas--who had thrown out a runner at home to end the fourth inning--dropped Lisa Brende’s line drive to load the bases.

Monroe got a forceout at home on a grounder, but first baseman Anna Marquez dropped a relay throw from catcher Lupe Brambila on the double-play attempt and Gutekunst scored to make it 2-0. Brende later stole home.