Lucy Dessert fired a complete-game shutout to lead San Marcos softball to a 1-0 victory over Ventura High on Tuesday in Ventura.
The Royals (7-4, 3-2 Channel League) now sit in fourth place in the Channel League and will look to complete the sweep of the fifth-place Cougars (5-5, 0-3 CL) at home on Friday at 3:30 p.m.
“Each win in league is so important in such a tight Channel League, and this one especially. We’re pretty evenly matched against Ventura and that was evident today,” San Marcos head coach Emily Dietz said.
“I’m just so happy for the girls today. They always have fun together – I don’t think I’ve had a team that loves each other as much as this team does – but today you could tell they had fun playing softball together and that’s a great feeling as we continue league play.”
Dessert turned in an efficient outing to earn the complete-game victory, needing just 83 pitches to get through seven scoreless frames. She struck out three batters and scattered four hits without allowing a walk.
“Lucy was as good as I’ve ever seen her today,” Dietz said. “She shined, and it really was her game.”
Meanwhile, San Marcos’ lone run came in the top of the fourth inning courtesy of an infield single from Sutera Raring to bring home Reese Large, who singled earlier in the frame.
The Royals’ defense backed up Dessert all day long and turned a pair of crucial double plays, including an unassisted double play by Solana Sandoval at third base to end the fourth inning and strand runners on second and third.
Dessert also turned a double play of her own in the fifth, snagging a comeback line drive and getting the second out at first.
“We’ve stressed clean defense and making the plays when necessary, we did that today and some,” Dietz said.
Dos Pueblos 23, Pacifica 1
The Chargers totaled 31 hits as a team on their way to a rout of the Tritons on Tuesday in Oxnard.
Brooklyn Hedricks led the charge, going 4-for-4 with a home run, a double and seven RBIs. Meanwhile, Zella Cassidy went 5-for-5 and Anastasia Brunner, Julianna Brunner and Emily Morici all turned in 4-for-5 performances.
One of Anastasia Brunner’s four hits was a home run, while the trio of Chaya Blaney, Esme Mazurkiewicz and Kyanne Bechler tallied two hits apiece.
“Obviously, I’m happy with the hitting output, but the credit goes to these kids,” Dos Pueblos head coach Mike Gerken said. “They put in so much time on their hitting. When practice ends, practice doesn’t end. There is always a line of girls wanting to get in extra hitting in. It’s paying off every game.
“Brooklyn had a breakout game. She’s been refining her swing of late and it paid off today.”