PREP SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Horne’s Catch of Day Saves Mater Dei, 1-0

Mater Dei center fielder Lainie Horne didn’t know what all the fuss was about when she got back to the dugout, but her humble recollection of a sixth-inning catch was far from what others saw at Mile Square Park.

They saw Horne charge into the right-center field alley to snare a sinking line drive, save a run--and the game--and give Mater Dei a clear shot to the South Coast League title.

The fourth-ranked Monarchs beat seventh-ranked San Clemente, 1-0, thanks to the catch. Mater Dei (20-4, 6-1 in league) has a two-game lead over second-place San Clemente (19-5, 4-3) and Trabuco Hills (12-10, 4-3) with three games to play.

Mater Dei scored in the first inning on Kelsey Kollen’s leadoff line-drive double and Lisa Tully’s grounder through the middle against a defense guarding against the slap bunt. That was the only scoring, and it made Horne’s heroics even greater.

San Clemente’s Jamie Stark singled with one out in the sixth, and on a hit-and-run, Heather Hollis the county’s RBI leader with 34, pulled a liner to the gap. Horne ran it down, catching it at her knees and easily doubling off Stark, who was near third base.

Horne called it routine: “I didn’t know it was going to be that big of a play.”

But both coaches called it the play of the game.

Colleen Boddy gave up only three hits and struck out five; losing pitcher Brittany Carlson (9-5) gave up six hits.