Woodbridge Stays Hot, Tops Irvine

Last season, Woodbridge failed to win a league softball title for the first time in 17 years. This year, the Warriors appear to be back on track.

Brittany Crouch pitched a seven-hitter and Maritza Padilla hit two run-scoring doubles Tuesday to lead the Warriors to a 3-0 victory over visiting Irvine.

Woodbridge (14-11, 4-0) maintained its hold on first place in the Sea View League and has a two-game lead over Irvine, Aliso Niguel and Laguna Hills with four games remaining.

Woodbridge has won eight of its last 10 games after winning six of its first 15.

“We’ve been like the little engine that could, going uphill all year,” Woodbridge Coach Alan Dugard said. “We’re trying to prove something.”

The Warriors scored two runs in the first. Shauna Corso led off with a double to left field, was sacrificed to third by Renee Bohls, then Padilla hit a drive to center field that glanced off the glove of Cami Jung and went for a double, scoring Corso. Two batters later, Melissa Haffner singled to left to drive in Padilla.

Crouch, who struck out five and didn’t allow a walk, turned back Irvine’s biggest threat with the help of her teammates.

Erika Peterson tripled to lead off the fourth. Kym Bixler followed with a sharp ground ball that was grabbed by first baseman Corso, who threw home in time for Padilla to make the tag on the sliding Peterson. Bixler was then sacrificed to second before Crouch got Heather Walker to hit a soft liner back to the mound.

“I’ve never been a big strikeout pitcher,” Crouch said. “I just try to make the batters hit something I want them to hit and then rely on our defense.”