Rosary Has Banner Year Despite Loss in Final

Rosary did not win the Southern Section Division IV softball title Friday, but the Royals (26-7) set a school record for victories in a season. The previous mark was 22.

According to Coach Tom Tice, Rosary also went undefeated in league for the first time, taking the Golden West League championship.

The Royals lost the section title game Friday, 2-0, to Corona Santiago.

“Of course we’re disappointed because we wanted to win, but there’s no shame in losing in the finals,” Tice said.

“The shame would have been to underachieve, and I think we reached our potential.”

*

Natasha Watley didn’t have the kind of game she had hoped for in top-seeded Woodbridge’s semifinal loss to Cerritos, 2-1.

She was one for four.

“There were two hits in the hole I’ve seen her handle that she couldn’t handle,” Woodbridge Coach Alan Dugard said of Watley, who was in an auto accident two weeks earlier.

“The last ball hit [into the hole], she picked it up, and you could see that she had trouble throwing. That was the winning run.”

*

Mater Dei’s Kelsey Kollen ended her career with five hits in 10 at-bats in Southern Section championship games.

Her final hit, which established the new section standard for a career, was her 241st.

Her double also drove in the first run in the Monarchs’ 4-1 victory over Chino Hills Ayala.

*

The thing that struck Mater Dei Coach Doug Myers more than anything was his team’s fortitude.

“I’ve never coached a team with more heart,” Myers said. ‘This team refused to lose.”

Though Ayala batted in the seventh, Mater Dei scored its decisive runs in the sixth, meaning the Monarchs won their last three games on the strength of their last at-bat.

*

Could Pacifica three-peat next season? Well, Amanda Freed’s departure doesn’t necessarily signal the end of the Mariners.

They were 4-1 at the Tournament of Champions in Bullhead City, Ariz., with junior pitcher Jessica Soto covering for Freed, who was off working out with the U.S. national team.

That was the tournament that brought together dozens of the nation’s best teams.

“We have another great pitcher and the same defense,” Toria Auelua said. “We hope to be here again next year.”

*

Pacifica had two base runners thrown out trying to steal in the first three innings. Freed was nabbed at third base, and Dara Webb at second. Freed was thrown out with Tiffany Wallace at bat, and it ended the first inning.

Wallace, a left-handed batter, had two hits and also lined out to left field in the seventh.

“I’ve gambled all year long,” Pacifica Coach Rob Weil said. “We try to force mistakes.”