Mater Dei’s Bollinger Dominates

Mater Dei’s Casie Phillips lashed a single into right field, driving in Desiree Gutierrez from second base in the eighth inning to give Mater Dei a 1-0 victory over Fountain Valley in the championship game of the National Prep Softball Classic Saturday in Bullhead City, Ariz.

Gutierrez had been placed on second to begin the eighth inning in accordance with the international tiebreaking rule.

The first seven innings were a scoreless pitching duel between Tia Bollinger of Mater Dei, which is ranked third in Orange County, and Fountain Valley’s Natalie King.

King had given up one hit and had 11 strikeouts. Bollinger gave up three hits and struck out 18.

King finished with 12 strikeouts and Bollinger 19.

Bollinger, who earlier pitched Mater Dei to a 2-1 victory in 11 innings over Tucson (Ariz.) Flowing Wells, said: “I was feeling pretty good and knew that I could have gone a few more innings.”

Fountain Valley, ranked second in Orange County, defeated top-ranked Foothill, 1-0, in the other semifinal. Christina Skaggs grounded a single past third to bring in Nicole Rambus in the eighth inning.