Old Nemesis Stops Thousand Oaks, 1-0

FOUNTAIN VALLEY —  Count Coach Gary Walin of Thousand Oaks High among those who are thankful Marissa Young of Mater Dei is moving on to college next fall.

He has his reasons.

For the second time in four years, Young dominated Thousand Oaks and eliminated the Lancers in a late-round playoff game.

“I’ve seen enough of Marissa Young, thank you,” Walin said.

Young pitched a one-hitter and struck out 11 in the Monarchs’ 4-0 victory on Tuesday in a Southern Section Division I semifinal at Mile Square Park.

Mater Dei (28-4), defending Division I champion and in the final for the third time in four years, will face Valley View in the championship game this weekend.

As a freshman, Young pitched a perfect game against Thousand Oaks on the same field in 1-0 quarterfinal victory.

Three years later, she was far from perfect, but just as successful.

“That [perfect game] was a long time ago,” said Young, who is headed to Michigan on scholarship. “I know it’s been three years and the teams have changed.”

This time around, Thousand Oaks (23-9) had opportunities but couldn’t convert. Of its seven baserunners, only two advanced beyond first base. Two runners were thrown out trying to steal by catcher Jessica Gonzalez.

Despite her dominant performance, Young (15-2), a senior right-hander, said she was forced to rely on her velocity to shut down the Lancers.

“I had a rough time because [the umpire] wasn’t giving me any corners,” Young said. “So I was trying to go at them hard and hope they didn’t get around on it.”

With Tia Bollinger suffering back problems from a recent automobile accident, Young has pitched every playoff inning, recording four shutouts. She took a no-hitter into the sixth before Jenny Cochran singled to left.

Mater Dei did all of its damage in the third, bunching four of its six hits.

With one out, consecutive singles by Young, Christina Clark and Courtney Betley produced an earned run off Sheridan Fowler (11-6).

After Ruby Rojas drew a walk, Nicole Angelo relieved with the bases loaded.

Angelo induced a ground ball from Jessica Young. Third baseman Brandi Cope gloved the grounder and threw home to catcher Michelle Spencer for the second out, but Spencer’s throw to first was wide, forcing first baseman Shawna Lane to pull her foot off the base.

Gonzalez followed with a two-run single to right for a 3-0 lead. Jessica Young scored on a double steal.