League Titlist Ocean View Proves Start Is No Fluke

As soon as Janina Miller caught Elvia Gonzales’ line drive to center field to end the game, Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” blared out of a boombox from the Ocean View dugout.

It seemed the perfect complement to the large poster hanging in the dugout, which made reference to Ocean View’s “fluke” start in the Golden West League.

An indignant team? Maybe.

A championship team? Surely.

Ocean View, an unlikely Golden West League tri-champion last year, added another unlikely league title to its program Wednesday with a 3-0 victory over Westminster. After nine consecutive league victories with one to play, the Seahawks (16-8, 9-0) proved there was nothing accidental about their outright league title.

Second-place Westminster (16-6-1, 7-2 in league) was the league favorite in the preseason, but the Lions were no match for pitcher Sara Gulla, who gave up only three hits--two to Krissy Keene.

Gulla was especially tough on Westminster the two times it had a runner reach second or third base. Westminster was 0 for 4 in that situation with four strikeouts.

Gulla (15-7), Ocean View’s only senior starter, struck out eight and walked two.

“We wanted to prove something to the softball community,” Gulla said. “Last year, they said we couldn’t do it. This year, they said we couldn’t do it.”

But they did it. Ocean View wasn’t hurt by its two errors. It got effective pitching and, unlike Westminster, timely hitting.

Ocean View was three for seven with runners in scoring position. Leah Gulla followed Lovieanne Jung’s leadoff double with a run-scoring single to center field, and Sara Gulla followed with a single over third base for a 2-0 first-inning lead.

After an error and a sacrifice bunt put Jung on third base in the third inning, Cara Vanderhook--who bats cleanup between the Gulla sisters--hit a soft liner to center for another RBI single.

That’s all the Seahawks needed.

“We lost a lot of close games last year, but this year, the ball is bouncing for us,” said Ocean View Coach John Sansone. “We played a difficult preseason schedule--Woodbridge, Pacifica, Fountain Valley, Foothill--a lot of top-10 teams that we played close. That got us ready for league.

“We couldn’t understand why we didn’t get any respect. Records can be deceiving. If you don’t play anybody decent, a good record doesn’t mean anything.”

In other league games:

Rosary 13, Santa Ana 0 (5, mercy)--Michele McCarthy, Erin Connors and Theresa Cronin each had two hits, and along with Natalie Golda, had two RBIs apiece. Marissa Perez led all batters with three hits and one RBI.

Laura Fulton walked three times, scored three runs and stole five bases, giving her 29 this season. She also relieved Christy Ledford (13-7) and struck five in two innings.

Outgoing senior shortstop Leta Espinosa, in the final home game of her career, pitched for the Saints (7-16, 0-9). She struck out four.

Rosary (19-7, 6-3) plays host to Westminster at 2:30 p.m. Friday at Lions Field in Fullerton to try to force a tie for second place.

Tustin 6, Saddleback 1--Brook Brown (2-1) pitched a three-hitter, striking out six and walking two; she had three hits, including a home run. Sarah Montes added three hits and two stolen bases for the Tillers.