SUNSET LEAGUE SOFTBALL ROUNDUP : Marina Stands Up to Fountain Valley

Marina might want to put its name on a Sunset League championship banner. Not even Murphy’s Law could keep it from beating the defending champion, Fountain Valley, 3-1, Tuesday.

The top-ranked Vikings (12-2, 4-0) appeared vulnerable to a league loss on this wind-swept day against the fifth-ranked Barons (11-4, 4-1).

Marina’s best pitcher, Marcy Crouch, started at third base because she didn’t feel well enough to pitch. She was battling pinkeye and a migraine, which she later passed on to the Barons. Crouch (5-1) allowed only one runner--she hit the second batter she faced--in five innings of relief to get the victory.

First baseman Lynette Velasquez saw the chiropractor two days in a row, but her bat broke Fountain Valley’s back. She drilled a first-inning double into the wind, scoring Crouch with the winning run in the bottom of the first.

Catcher Heather Williams was nursing a sprained ankle that kept her out of the title game of the Righetti Tournament last week. Her sixth-inning RBI single sealed Marina’s victory.

Fountain Valley Coach Cary Baker blamed himself for the outcome. He didn’t hold any practices over the spring vacation.

“We lost that competitive edge,” he said. “Our pitching, hitting, defense--it just wasn’t there.”

Robyn Yorke’s infield single and a throwing error helped Marina score its first run off losing pitcher Danny Rodriguez (9-2). After a sacrifice bunt, Yorke scored on Faith Fuata’s bouncer to second. Crouch followed with a single and Velasquez doubled for a 2-0 lead.

Fountain Valley answered in the second against starting pitcher Heather Hibben. Rodriguez walked and reached third on a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt. She scored on Laurie Gillis’ liner to center, the Barons’ only hit.

Hibben walked the lead batter in the third and then Crouch took over.

An error, sacrifice and the hit batter put runners at first and third and one out. Baker elected not to send the runner to second, which could have induced a throw to second that might have scored Molly Sinclair from third or a concession of second base. Instead, Crouch struck out Danelle Lovetro, who was batting .600 in league. Lovetro struck out for only the second time this season. Rodriguez hit a soft liner to first after a pair of hard-hit foul balls, ending the rally. The Barons never got another runner.

In other Sunset League games:

Huntington Beach 2, Rosary 1--In the fourth, Becky Bellamy singled in Nicole Kreipl with the go-ahead run for Huntington Beach (5-10, 2-3). Nicola Walsh pitched a one-hitter with five walks for Rosary.

Ocean View 13, Santa Ana 3 (5 innings, mercy rule)--Jennifer Hatcher went three for three, including a three-run home run and a two-run triple, for Ocean View (12-4, 4-1). Lisa Dacquisto had two hits and stole three bases giving her 27 for the season.

Westminster 7, Edison 3--Christina Loya hit a triple in the fourth inning for Edison (1-9, 0-4).