One Run Does It Again for LeCocq

Chaminade High defeated Westlake, 1-0, Saturday, the same score and in the same manner as an earlier meeting between the teams--a tournament game called after six innings.

One has to wonder: What would happen if these teams played seven innings?

Neither coaches appeared anxious to find out.

“I tell you what, I hope we don’t have to face them again,” Coach Steve Harrington of Chaminade said. “That’s how much respect I have for that team. They’re a great team, well coached. . . . I’m glad they’re not in our league.”

The quarterfinal of the Thousand Oaks tournament was called because of a 1 hour 40 minute time limit. Last month in the Righetti tournament, Chaminade defeated Westlake, 1-0, in a game called because of rain.

Not surprisingly, Chaminade pitcher Maureen LeCocq once again was the determining factor. LeCocq (13-2), who threw a one-hitter against Westlake at Righetti, allowed two hits and struck out five in the rematch.

“It was a great game,” Coach Barbara Jordan of Westlake said. “I’m proud of my team. I thought they did well. [LeCocq] is a good pitcher. It’s not gonna come easy.”

Chaminade (13-6-1), which defeated Gahr, 10-0, in a first-round game, scored the only run in the top of the sixth. LeCocq walked with one out and stole second. Erin Taylor followed with a low line drive through the right side of the infield for the winning hit.

“No one plays with more heart and emotion that Erin Taylor,” Harrington said.

Westlake’s Erin Voeltz (15-4) allowed five hits and struck out four.

Westlake defeated Highland, 2-1, scoring two runs in the bottom of the seventh, to reach the quarterfinals.

Westlake (17-4) scored the winning run on Tiffany Meadows’ double to right-center field.

Highland committed three of its five errors in the seventh.

In other games:

Camarillo 2, El Camino Real 0--The Scorpions had three of their five hits in the third inning to score two runs against the City Section powerhouse Conquistadores in a first-round game.

Consecutive hits by Nicki Holt, Alana Mendoza and Jill Borchard did the damage.

Kathryn Nevard (10-4) of Camarillo kept El Camino Real off-balance, scattering four hits and striking out eight. Cara Blumfield had two hits for El Camino Real (17-3).

Camarillo (15-5), ranked No. 2 in the region, lost to Mater Dei, 1-0, in a quarterfinal that was determined by the international tie-breaker in the eighth inning.

El Camino Real, ranked No. 7, defeated Righetti, 5-3, in a quarterfinal.

Thousand Oaks 3, Cerritos 2--A three-run home run by Lacey Cope in the bottom of the sixth was the difference for the streaking Lancers (17-5) in a quarterfinal.

Thousand Oaks, which extended its win streak to nine games, trailed Cerritos (15-7), 2-0, in the sixth.

But with two out, Cope ripped a line drive over the left fielder’s head for her first home run of the season.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen a ball hit so far,” Coach Gary Walin of Thousand Oaks said.

The Lancers defeated Hoover, 10-0, in a first-round game called after six innings because of the 10-run rule.

Hart 2, Newbury Park 1--The No. 6 Indians (15-4-1) scored two runs in the sixth on a bases-loaded single in a quarterfinal.

Newbury Park, playing without slugger Oli Keohohou, who was taking the SAT, defeated Saugus, 1-0, in a first-round game on Cindy Muran’s first-inning homer.