Woodbridge Takes Control of the Game, League Race
None of the participants would have believed the difference between first and second place in the Sea View League was eight runs, but that’s the margin Woodbridge established Wednesday with its 8-0 victory over El Toro.
Not only did Woodbridge (19-5, 5-0 in league), ranked No. 5 in Orange County, seize control of the league race at its midway point, but it gave ninth-ranked El Toro (15-10, 4-1) something to think about.
Woodbridge pitcher Christy Robitaille (14-4) admitted she wasn’t sharp. Yet, El Toro managed only two hits and failed to capitalize on four walks or five runners that reached scoring position.
“I was kind of off,” Robitaille said. “I was struggling.”
It was Robitaille’s 14th shutout. She struck out four.
“That’s the thing that’s discouraging,” said El Toro Coach Jim Daugherty. “Robitaille wasn’t sharp; she was beatable.
“Maybe it’s better if you’re a little wild instead of always being in the strike zone. The problem with [losing pitcher Suzanne Guy] is she’s always in the strike zone and the batters know they’ll get a piece of the ball.”
Woodbridge got 12 hits, but didn’t exactly hit rockets against Guy (8-2).
The Warriors stranded four runners in the first two innings, but scored twice in the third on runs batted in by Nichole Thompson and Desiree Stickelmaier following Ashley Boone’s single and Lizzy Lemire’s double.
The Warriors blew open the game in the fourth as their team speed and placement of the ball unraveled the Chargers. Consecutive singles by Natasha Watley, Lisa Watanabe, Lolita Harper (RBI), Boone (two RBIs), Lemire (RBI) and a run-scoring groundout by Thompson made the outcome academic.
Seven of the eight runs were earned.
In other Sea View League games:
Santa Margarita 13, Newport Harbor 1--Santa Margarita scored nine runs in the seventh. Kari Fenelli had a double and two runs scored for the Eagles (2-3 in league).
In the Express League:
Heritage Christian 22, Bethel Christian 2 (5 innings, mercy rule)--Christa Larson hit a grand slam and gave up one hit for host Heritage Christian (4-5, 4-3).
In the Golden West League:
Rosary 3, Ocean View 2--Erin Connors scored the eventual winning run on a throwing error in the fourth for host Rosary (16-8, 4-1).
Westminster 8, Santa Ana 0--Ashley Maranto (6-2) threw a two-hitter and Kelly Hauxhurst and Monica Monroy homered for sixth-ranked Westminster (15-4, 3-0).
In the Sea View League:
Irvine 7, Corona del Mar 5--Debbie Tomoguchi’s two-run single in the sixth scored the go-ahead runs for 10th-ranked Irvine (17-5-1, 3-2).
In the South Coast League:
Mater Dei 13, Mission Viejo 0--Marissa Young (10-1) threw a two-hitter, striking out 14, for second-ranked Mater Dei (19-1, 4-0).
Trabuco Hills 9, San Clemente 4--Jody Davy had two doubles, two RBIs and scored a run for host Trabuco Hills (8-8, 3-1), which scored nine runs in the fifth. San Clemente is 15-7, 2-2.