Mater Dei Makes No Excuses, Captures the Title, 3-1

Lisa Tully wore a shirt before Saturday’s Southern Section Division I softball championship game that read, “No excuses, this is next year.”

That’s because Mater Dei had been here before, in a section title game, only to be turned away by Marina.

This year, there were no excuses needed, especially by sophomore Monica Lucatero, who went from possible goat to game-winning hero.

Lucatero’s two-run double in the bottom of the sixth inning completed a 3-1, come-from-behind victory for second-seeded Mater Dei over fourth-seeded Camarillo in front of about 2,800 at Mayfair Park.

Lucatero was not alone in her heroics. Kelsey Kollen beat out a high chopper to shortstop to drive in Mater Dei’s first run, tying the score, and freshman pitcher Marissa Young, who gave up only two hits--both in the third inning as Camarillo took a 1-0 lead.

It was the first time Mater Dei had trailed at the completion of an inning since its loss to Foothill; since then, Mater Dei has won 19 straight.

“Winning in this fashion did make it special,” Mater Dei Coach Doug Myers said. “It shows the heart and character of this team. We haven’t played a lot of close games since the Foothill game. You don’t know how we would respond. But [Jodi Schicker] got the sacrifice bunt down and Kelsey got the slap hit that only she can beat out.

“It is much more emotional and satisfying.”

Mater Dei (30-1) was ranked No. 1 in the state by Cal-Hi Sports, and Camarillo (24-3-1) was ranked No. 6.

Mater Dei tied the score in the bottom of the fifth. Lainie Horne, who had the Monarchs’ only hit to that point, lined a single to left field and was replaced by Brianna Lemos. Schicker’s bunt advanced Lemos to second, and Shealee Dunavan followed with an infield single on a high bouncer to first.

Kendra Meano was ahead in the count, three balls, but popped to shortstop on a 3-1 pitch. Kollen, who had struck out in her first two at-bats, hit a high bouncer to shortstop that she beat out; Horne scored easily, but Dunavan was thrown out trying to score from second base.

“That play took so much pressure off,” Myers said. “You could see the momentum switch.”

Young struck out two in the sixth, needing only 11 pitches. Then Mater Dei put together its winning rally--capped by Lucatero, who didn’t play in last year’s final.

A one-out infield single by Robin Walker and Young getting hit by a pitch preceded Lucatero’s first-pitch line drive to the right-center field alley.

Her double, which rolled to the fence, scored both runs, giving Mater Dei a 3-1 lead and needing only three outs to win its first softball title.

“It was the best feeling in the world,” Lucatero said.

“I saw the pitch right there, and said, ‘This is the pitch and I’m going to drive it as far as I can.’ ”